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AT 



MARSHALL COLLEGK, 



Mercersburg, Pa., 



FROM 1839 TO 1845 



A NARRATIVE, WITH REFLECTIONS. 



t 




r- 



i 



BY 



REV. THEODORE APPEL, D. D., 

LANCASTER, PA. 

JUN >3i 
READING, PA. : 

DANIEL MILLER, PRINTER AND PUBLISHER. 

1886. 







Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1886, 

BY THEODORE APPEL, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



INTRODUCTION 



The work here introduced to the public is one which, in our 
judgment, will not fail to interest the reader. It invites atten- 
tion first of all from those who were in any way connected with 
Marshall College, and the Theological Seminary which shared 
in its early struggles. It will be read with interest also by the 
members of the Reformed Church generally, as it gives a his- 
tory of the founding and trials of these first literary and theo- 
logical institutions established by that Church in this country. 
But it may fairly challenge attention on the part of a wider 
public also, which may be interested in the history and genius 
of a branch of the Reformed Church of the sixteenth century, in 
its earlier development in this new world. And we do not 
overestimate it, we think, when we predict that it will be read 
with interest by those who appreciate a work of this kind for its 
literary character, and its able treatment of subjects that per- 
tain to the general culture of the times. 

All who have any adequate acquaintance with the Reformed 
Church will feel, in reading these pages, that the founding of its 
literary and theological institutions at Mercersburg, was an 
epoch in its history in this country. The Church had, indeed, 
made considerable progress previous to this time in gathering 
its scattered membership into congregations, and in perfecting 
its organization by the formation of Synods and Classes ; but 
it still lacked those appliances that are necessary to a denomi- 
nation that would perpetuate its existence, and do its proper 
work in its literary and theological culture,— a College and 
Seminary. These came late, it is true, in the history of the Re- 
formed Church in the United States, as compared with the work 
of other religious bodies, whose institutions were already large 
and flourishing. But the history of the German population of 
Pennsylvania, with their early trials and struggles, is suflficient 
to afford some reasonable excuse for this tardiness. 

It was a period of heroic endeavor, however humble and 
limited the plans and labors were which resulted in the found- 
ing of these institutions. Nor can we regret, now that they are 
safely over and crowned with success, the peculiar diflaculties 
that were encountered in that day of small things, ** Alia An- 



IV INTRODUCTION 

fsenge sind schwer." The difficulties on the external side, in 
the way of pecuniary embarrassment, were only a part of the 
problem that awaited solution ; of more serious concern were 
the conditions that pertained to the internal character of the in- 
stitutions that were, from that time on, to mould the life and 
spirit of the Reformed Church. Literary and theological train- 
ing was felt as a necessity for its perpetuation and progress ; 
but in order to perform its mission aright, as one of the histori- 
cal denominations of Protestantism, everything depended on 
the character of that training. 

The institutions at once took character from the men who 
labored in their founding and early history. Drs. Ranch, Nevin, 
and Schaff were men who fully understood the situation. They 
knew the importance of their work in its relation to the future. 
They possessed the talent and culture to impress upon both 
College and Seminary the true idea of liberal culture. Though 
few in number, these professors, with their several coadjutors, 
furnished their students with a true conception of the require- 
ments of higher education. The training at once, moreover, 
took the character of the Church which it was to represent : it 
was Anglo-German. The thinking of the College was moulded 
by a Christian philosophy that should represent the best results 
of German thought, pervaded by the English life and spirit of 
this country. Already a transition had commenced from the 
utilitarian and materialistic systems of Bacon and Locke. Dr. 
Ranch had the full ability of introducing a better trend, and 
the advanced students were not slow in catching the new spirit, 
and following his lead into a more spiritual and healthful sys- 
tem of thought, which sought to retain the merits, and at the 
same time to eliminate the faults, of the German school. 

The work required of these men comprehended also the lay- 
ing of the foundations of a theology that should fitly represent 
the life of an Anglo-German Church, which could not be just a 
copy or reproduction of Puritanism or extreme Calvinism. The 
later introduction of Methodism also, whose great merits must 
be admitted by all, had diffused a spirit which did not harmon- 
ize with the historical life of the Reformed Church. It was felt 
that if this old Church of the Reformation had a mission to per- 
form among the religious bodies of this nation, it must be true 
to itself, and work out a theology of its own. It was a call of 
Providence which had guarded and protected the life of the 
Church from its humble beginnings, that it should seek in a 



INTRODUCTION V 

spirit of broad charity to maintain its theological identity, and 
so contribute its part in moulding the Christianity of this na- 
tion, a Christianity which is gathering and organizing the dif- 
ferent elements and tendencies that have come over to us from 
the old world. It is not saying too much then to assert that the 
professors at Mercersburg comprehended the importance of 
their work and mission in this respect. 

We look back now upon the half century that has passed 
away since the founding of Marshall College, and rejoice in the 
results that have flowed forth from that humble beginning. 
The work of the Reformed Church in this country, in the di- 
rection of literary and theological culture, is, indeed, still in its 
infancy, yet it has gone forward with a hopeful degree of pro- 
gress. Not only has the mother college attained to a fair stage 
of prosperity in its new home at Lancaster, with its handsome 
and valuable property, its increased endowment, and the pros- 
pect of a step forward in its coming semi-centennial celebration 
in 1887 ; but it has inspired the founding of quite a number of 
other colleges in different sections of the country. Some may 
regard this growth as tardy, and the results referred to as quite 
inadequate to the ability of the denomination and the spirit of 
the times ; but it must be remembered that no solid work can 
make very rapid progress in its first stages, and we ha\e rea- 
son, therefore, to hope that the next fifty years may present far 
greater results proportionably than the past. 

The Chapters on Dr. Ranch are valuable, especially for the 
full and appreciative statement they give of his Aesthetics and 
Ethics. His teachings in these departments of philosophy were 
never published. They were left in manuscript lectures, cop- 
ies of which were taken by the students. His treatment of 
Aesthetics particularly was something new at that time in this 
country, and though it was confined pretty much to the sphere 
of Art, especially to Poetry, yet it presented the fundamental 
principles for that enlarged treatment of the general subject 
which was brought out in later years by Dr. Nevin, and forms 
now one of the leading sections of the philosophy taught in the 
College. So, too, Dr. Ranch's lectures on Ethics laid the foun- 
dation for the system that has been taught in its fundamental 
principles since, though this subject also has been greatly en- 
riched in the subsequent history of the college. The author 
has done a good work in reproducing the substance of these 
lectures, and we think the old students will recognize the faith- 
fulness and ability with which the work has been done. 



VI INTRODUCTION 

We may be allowed yet to refer to the literary character of 
this book, and the interest which it possesses for all classes of 
readers. The style is not pretentious ; but the reader will rec- 
ognize the pure English which the author employs, and the 
simplicity and clearness, as well as the strength, which charac- 
terize his narrative. 

The experience given, so far as it embraces personal refer- 
ences, is one that will find a response from the reader, no mat- 
ter what has been the beginning of his life, but especially from 
those who recall the early days of "auld lang syne," when they 
started from home to enter college. The simple, unaffected 
style of this part of the narrative, and the generous and ami- 
able spirit it breathes, will call up experiences in the early life 
of the readers which makes us all feel akin, for it will be felt 
that it is free from all narrow egotism. 

This book is really but the opening of a larger chapter in 
the literary and theological history ot these institutions, reach- 
ing through a subsequent decade, which possesses great inter- 
est also, and which many will, no doubt, wish to see written 
ont in the same genial spirit, and with the same able discrimi- 
nation, that characterize the pages of this unpretentious, yet 
able and interesting volume. May the spirit of those early 
days in the history of our institutions, as it comes down to our 
Alumni, old students and others, through the pages of this 
book, over some tumultuous years intervening, inspire and 
quicken them for the solemn and responsible work that still 
lies before them in the years to come ! 

THOMAS GILMORE APPEL, 
President of Franklin and MarshaU College. 

Lancaster, April 30, 1886. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Chapter I 

ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE.— Questions Asked. Re- 
flections. Philadelphia. Dr. J. P. Berg. Rev. Albert Barnes. 
Judge Jones. Mrs. Jones. The Susquehanna. By Rail. 

Pages 9—24. 

Chapter II 

CHAMBERSBURG IN 1839.— A Reformed Elder. An Ec- 
clesiastical Centre Rev. H. L. Rice. New-Measures. A Strange 
Benediction. Rev. Jacob Helfenstein. An Explanation. The 
** Weekly Messenger.'^ Its Tone. The Lutherans. A Note. 

25—41. 

Chapter III 

MERCERSBURG.— How it Began. Scenery. A Descrip- 
tion. Michael Schlatter and the Germans. The Scotch-Irish. 
Their Gayety. Their Seriousness. Changes. Progress. Mr. 
Buchanan's Birth- Place. His Mother. Harriet Lane. Mrs. 
Young's School. Two Heroes. The Anglo-Germans. 42—65. 

Chapter IV 

THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. — Its Antecedents. 
The Synod of Bedford. At Carlisle. The Rev. James R. Reily : 
in Holland, Germany and Switzerland. The Results. The 
Seminary at York. Professor Young. Progress. Dr. Ranch. 
His Election. Clouds. Removal to Mercersburg. Dr. Mayer. 

66-92. 

Chapter V 

MARSHALL COLLEGE.— The High School. A Corner- 
stone Laying. Dr. Rauch's Prayer. Addresses. Marshall 
College Begins. The Faculty. The Preparatory Department. 
The First Commencement in 1837. Contest. Riot. 

93—118. 

Chapter VI 

COLLEGE LIFE. — Prayers. Study Hours. The Nine 
O'clock Rule. A Temperance Discussion. Serenades. Arbor 
Day. The New Walk. The Literary Societies. Their Libra- 
ries. Their Halls. Laying of Corner- Stones. A Lyric by- 
Professor Nevin. The German Language. Die Deutsche Li- 
terarische Gesellschaft. The Law School. A College Paper. A 
Duel. A Revival. Means of Grace. Sunday-Schools. Ten- 
dencies. Jacob B. Shade. Amusements. Anniversaries. Com- 
mencements. Vacations. The Alumni Association. A Note. 

119-174. 

Chapter VII 

THE FACULTY.— Prof. J. F. Berg. Prof. Edward Bourne. 
Prof. Albert Smith. The Tutors, D. T. Stoddard, Andrew S. 



VIII TABLE OP CONTENTS 



Young, Gardner Jones, and Others. Dr. Traill Green. Prof. 
W. M. Nevin. Prof. S. W. Budd. Dr. Rauch, his Appearance, 
his Lectures, his Psychology. 175—221. 

Chapter VIII 

RAUCH'S ESTHETICS.— Nature and Art. Science and 
Art. The Truth of Art. Poetry and Prose. Poetry, a Univer- 
sal Art. Didactic, Descriptive, Lyric, Epic and Dramatic Poe- 
try. Remarks. 222—249. 

Chapter IX 

RAUCH'S christian ETHICS.-The Natural, the Moral, 
and the Immoral. Law as an Abstraction. In the Concrete. 
The Moral Law. Objective and Subjective. False Theories. 
The Stoic Principle. Kant's Principle. His Categorical Im- 
perative. His Autonomy. Prof. Daub's Critique. Another 
Estimate. The Theological Principle. Good and Evil. Regen- 
eration. 250—272. 

Chapter X 

DR. RAUCH'S PHILOSOPHY.— Things. Forces. A Cri- 
tique. Philosophemes. No Pantheist. Two Extremes. An 
Orthodox Philosopher. The Hegelian School. Dr. Ranch's 
Standpoint. Nature. Man. God. 273—283. 

Chapter XI 

SERMONS AND DEATH OF DR. RAUCH.— Reason. 
Faith. The Visible and Invisible. The Presence of the Spirit. 
Infidelity. Declining Health and Death. Funeral. Eulogies. 

284—294. 

Chapter XII 

DOCTOR NEVIN.— His Election as Professor. His Appear- 
ance. His Inaugural. President of Marshall College. His 
Gifts. His Philosophy. A Practical American. A Ready 
Writer. The Centennial Year. The Heidelberg Catechism. 
Germs of Future Controversies. The Mystical Presence. The 
Church Question. Mrs. Nevin. 295—315. 

Chapter XIII 

ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY.— How it Took its 
Rise. An Excitement. A Spirited Correspondence. The Stu- 
dents. The Tract on the Anxious Bench. In the Reformed 
Church. In the Lutheran Church, Dr. Kurtz. Dr. Weiser. 
The Point at Issue. The National and the Spiritual. A New 
Era. 316—331. 

Chapter XIV 

DOCTOR SCHAFF.— The German Professorship. Dr. 
Krummacher. A Bequest. Elder Daniel Kieffer. Dr. Schaff. 
His Ordination at Elberfeld. Reception at Mercersburg. Anglo- 
Germanism. His Literary Activity. His Inaugural. The Trial 
at the Synod of York. His Subsequent Career. 3.32—347. 



CONCLUSION 



CHAPTER I 



On the Way to College 

Questions Asked. — In the Autumn of 1839, we spent 
several weeks in going around to give good-bye to friends 
and neighbors, previous to our departure for college. 
Naturally they had many questions to ask. The first 
always was, Where are you going ? to which we became 
so accustomed that we translated it into Latin, Quo va- 
dis ? As some had never heard of such a place as Mer- 
cersburg before, they wished to know where it was. We 
informed them that it was several counties west of York, 
or Little York, as it was then called, to distinguish it 
from another York which was a much larger place. O, 
then it must be out somewhere in the Alleghany Moun- 
tains, was the reply. Pointing to the Blue Mountains 
to the north of us, we told them that if they would travel 
along those mountains from the Delaware Water Gap to 
the south-west for a week or two, they would reach the 
place. It was far off, and the journey a long one. This 
was satisfactory as it regarded the first question ; others, 
however, had to be answered in quick succession. 

But why do you go so far for your education ? That 
was the next question. There is a college at Easton, on 
the hill, over the Bushkill, and why do you not go 
2 



10 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

there ? It was more difficult for us to reply to this than 
we let on, because we did not as yet understand the rea- 
son why, as well as we did after we had made the ex- 
periment. Besides, Marshall College had not yet estab- 
lished for itself any wide-spread reputation, and Dr. 
Junkin, up on Mount Lafayette, had called it (playfully) 
"the little Dutch College out somewhere along the 
mountains.^^ Quite naturally some misgivings arose in 
our own mind, and some apprehension that after all we 
might be going to an out-of-the-way place, somewhere 
in the backwoods. Under the circumstjmces we did the 
best that we could, and told our inquiring friends that 
it would be an advantage to us to study in an institution 
of the Church, as in such a place we could be better pre- 
pared for the work of the ministry which we had in 
view. Of course we could not then comprehend the 
force of this reason as well as we did afterwards. If we 
had been left to ourselves, we should most probably have 
gone elsewhere, or entered Lafayette College in our na- 
tive place. We, however, listened to our older minis- 
ters. Pomp, HoflFeditz and Wolff, who, we presumed, 
understood these matters better than we did ; and we 
never had occasion to regret that we followed their ad- 
vice, at this important juncture of life. We acknowl- 
edge, however, we had some doubts about going to such 
a place as Mercersburg, and that it took some time be- 
fore our scepticism wore away. In due time we learned 



ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE 11 

that it was not only the best place for those who wished 
to study for the ministry in the Reformed Church, but 
desirable to others also, as it afforded them opportuni- 
ties to learn some things which could not be learned as 
well elsewhere. 

There was another question asked of us, which we 
could answer more satisfactorily to ourselves than to 
those who proposed it. What was the use of so much 
education and learning ? Other young men had gone 
and studied with Dr. Helfenstein, Dr. Becker or Dr. 
Herman for a few years, and why, it was said, do you 
not do as they did ? They had become good preachers, 
and what was the use of spending so much time in study ? 
Our German people in Eastern Pennsylvania, a half of 
a century ago, were not generally aware of the fact that 
the times were changing, and that they demanded a 
higher grade of culture in the ministry, as well as in 
other professions. Some of them sent their sons, but 
seldom their daughters, to High Schools, and this was 
regarded as a liberal provision for their education. The 
word "College" was in rather bad odor among them, 
and not much less so among their English cousins. But 
since then they have learned better, and are now begin- 
ning to give their daughters as well as their sons the 
best educational advantages within their reach, even if 
it does take more time and cost more money. But some 
of us had to start out first to break a pathway. 



12 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

A colonel in the county militia, an intelligent man, 
up in the country, tried to enlighten us on this subjec*t, 
and did his best to pursuade us to settle down ,in his 
neighborhood, where he would secure for us a school 
that would pay us well. But, as already said, we had 
listened to good counselors; and, besides, we had been 
under the instructions of a judicious teacher — Dr. John 
Vanderveer, a graduate of Princeton — who took a spe- 
cial pride in shipping oflF as many of his students to col- 
lege as he could, where he took as much pride in their 
success as if they were his own children. Under his 
training we had learned to some extent how little we 
knew, and so wished to climb up higher on the hill of 
science, as he used to say. 

By Stage, — Reflections, — After giving our last fare- 
wells, as if we were going to Europe or China, in the 
beginning of November, we made an early start from 
Easton for Philadelphia, in the old-fashioned way of 
traveling by stage. To us it was an event. In the 
gray looming of the morning, as we passed down along 
the Delaware, we looked back on interesting scenery, ad- 
mired by all who have seen it, until at last our eye 
rested on the tall, graceful, white spire of the Reformed 
church, which looked down upon all other buildings and 
over the high hills around it. Beneath it a Christian 
people had been learning many useful lessons, at church, 
in the Sunday-school, in the Catechism, in Bible class, at 



ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE 13 

the weekly lecture, and at meetings for prayer. The 
church was a fountain of living waters, where their thirst 
was assuaged from week to week. 

At times, some of the younger portion, when they 
heard of revivals and religious excitements elsewhere, 
thought that the congregation was too sleepy, and ought to 
wake up ; but it was waking up all the while, just as fast as 
it could, reviving, and growing in grace and knowledge, 
from week to week and from month to month. If the 
members did not get so high up in the religion of the emo- 
tions, they did not fall so low down afterwards in the way 
of reaction. One thing is certain : they did not quarrel 
with their ministers, nor set to work to condemn others 
because they were not as good and pious as they were. 
Our excellent pastors. Father Pomp in German and Dr. 
Wolff in English, told us that all the good results flow- 
ing from religious excitements could be secured in a bet- 
ter way — without the evil effects usually accompanying 
them. They sought to bring up their children, young 
and old, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and 
that meant training. 

After indulging for a time in reflections of this 
kind, we gave ourselves up to the exhilaration of riding 
post-haste through the country. We found that we were 
traveling not only by stage, but also by stages. At the 
end of every ten miles there was a relay of fresh horses, 
four of them, which at the sound of the coachman^s horn 



14 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

were brought out fully equipped, pawing and prancing, 
ready to carry the travelers over the next stage of their 
journey. The coach dashed out of the village as it 
dashed in, the cynosure of all eyes from doors and win- 
dows, and then in a flash it was out of sight. Formerly 
there was poetry in this method of traveling, which at 
present is regarded as only dull prose. 

Philadelphia. — In Philadelphia we stayed with Mr. 
Mitchel, the father of Mrs. Beecher, the widow of the 
Rev. Jacob Beecher of blessed memory. Eight years 
had elapsed since the death of her husband, at Shep- 
herdstown, Va., but her interest in the Church and insti- 
tutions, for which he had labored and died, remained un- 
abated. She was a lady of intelligence, of vivacity and 
refinement, and of much force of character. 

The Rev, Albeit Barnes, — With the family she was 
accustomed to attend the Rev. Albert Barnes^ church, 
in which her father was an elder ; and one evening we 
went with her to the weekly lecture to see and hear Mr. 
Barnes, whom she very much admired. Most people 
had heard of him, and so had we, especially at Easton, 
where his great theological opponent lived. Much was 
said about his heretical tendencies, but for those un- 
skilled in such matters it was diflScult to see where they 
lay. "Barnes^ Notes^^ on the Scriptures were popular 
and had met with a wide circulation. They were well 
adapted for the use of Sunday-school teachers, for whom 



ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE 15 

they were intended, as helps in their preparation for their 
classes. When we first heard him preach, he was in his 
prime, and presented a scholarly appearance, with the 
manner of a sincere and earnest clergyman. His ser- 
mons were all carefully prepared and read, and were 
pervaded with a glow of Christian feeling throughout. 
It was said by those who knew him best that he never 
spoke without saying something edifying — to the heart 
as well as to the head. 

At this time, closely watched as he was, he was cau- 
tiously working his way up out of old traditional and 
mechanical ways of thinking. He did not advance very 
far, however, and it might seem strange that he should 
have been the occasion of so much commotion in theolo- 
gical circles. Once we heard him preach, as we thought 
then and as we think now, an entirely orthodox sermon 
on justification by faith. He insisted, just as decidedly 
as his old school brethren did, that the righteousness of 
Christ was imputed to believers through faith ; but he 
did not favor the common view that it was done out- 
wardly or in a forensic way, but came as a result of Christ's 
relation to believers as their living head. In the same 
way he explained the imputation of Adam's sin to his 
descendants. It was the evil fruit of his generic rela- 
tion to the human race that brought with it such impu- 
tation of sin, and that was something real. 

This attempt to support an old doctrine by a new 



16 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

argument drawn from analogy, in order to present it 
in a more rational light to the popular mind, was con- 
^ sidered heresy in Mr. Barnes. It is not strange, how- 
ever, that he called forth opposition and protests. He 
was one who represented the beginnings of a new de- 
parture in theology, which involved much more than 
what appeared on the surface. Theology, like all other 
sciences, must advance, if it is not to become a mere dead 
letter ; but its growth always brings with it conflicts, 
antagonisms, and too often bitter strife, for which we 
ask the reason whv in vain. Men are in bondaore at 
every point, and they must fight their way out of it, in 
their intellectual as well as in their moral and religious 
nature. Hence the struggles and conflicts of history no 
less than its victories and its bright side. 

Dr, Joseph F* Berg. — During our stay in Philadel- 
phia we several times visited Dr. Berg, whom we knew, 
and whose preaching was always admired when he came 
to Easton, especially by the young people. He was just 
beginning his career in Philadelphia, and was very much 
absorbed in his work. He had been professor and pas- 
tor for a short time at Mercersburg, where, however, he 
was not especially demonstrative ; but now, in a great 
city, his energies and activities were fully aroused. He 
had swung over from the standpoint of his Moravian 
Brethren, who make the love of God prominent in their 
preaching, and was a fearless preacher of the terrors of 



ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE 17 

the Lord. At this time he was in sympathy with new 
measures, or any other measures, as he said, that would 
stir up more religious life among professing Christians. 
His congregation sustained him in his course, and its 
prospects of growth were flattering. He was also active 
with his pen, and had fairly commenced his literary ca- 
reer, which at length became almost exclusively polemi- 
cal. He was a reformer, and stood up boldly against 
the abuses of the day. Sometimes infidelity was the 
point of attack, but for the most part it was the Church 
of Rome, and the Pope whom he regarded as the man 
of sin, against whom he launched forth his thunder- 
bolts. In such controversy he was not second to Dr. 
Brownlee, Dr. Breckenridge, or any of the other anti- 
Catholic champions of the day. 

Dr. Berg was a fluent and impressive speaker, al- 
ways happy in the use of language and words, a ready 
debater, and possessed of a popular talent of no ordinary 
kind. If his learning was not as profound as that of 
some other doctors, his knowledge was always at his 
command, and few could call it into requisition more 
readily than he. 

In public there was an air of severity about him, 
but in private he was a most genial companion, full of 
wit and humor ; and in more serious hours, one that 
could encourage and sympathize with others. He be- 
came prominent in his controversies with the Mercers- 



18 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

burg professors, but be never exhibited any malice or 
hatred towards them. When I last saw him, not long 
before his death, he assured me of his respect and es- 
teem for them, and wished to be kindly remembered to 
them. He was just and generous towards those whose 
views he opposed, and regretted it when he felt himself 
compelled to difier from his brethren. He had strong 
convictions and was sincere in advocating them. In our 
conversations he spoke of the danger to personal piety 
in a college life ; and so we asked him how students 
could best protect themselves against spiritual declen- 
sion. Very solemnly he said, " they should be much 
engaged in prayer." 

Judge Jones, — When a stranger comes to a great city 
like Philadelphia, he naturally calls on those persons 
whom he knows or of whom he had heard. We, there- 
fore, went to see the Hon. Joel Jones, who had prac- 
ticed law at Easton for a time, and with Mrs. Jones had 
left behind an honorable record of Christian character. 
Being kindly received, we visited him several times. 
He was a distinguished jurist in his day, was the Presi- 
dent of Girard College during a short term. Mayor of 
Philadelphia, and an eminent Christian, an elder in his 
congregation, and a useful member on the various Boards 
of his own Church. 

Whilst he had thoroughly mastered the philosophy, 
the literature, and practice of jurisprudence, he seemed 



ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE 19 

to be just as eminent in biblical literature. He had the 
Greek and Latin at his command, had studied Hebrew 
at college, and had also mastered some of the Oriental 
and Modern Languages afterwards, with the view of 
pursuing his biblical studies in intervals " of leisure, 
snatched from the duties of his profession. The results 
of his investigations were published after his death in a 
large volume. It is strangely styled " Notes on Scrip- 
ture,^^ when it is in fact a critical history of Christ and 
His Church down to the day of Pentecost. It is slightly 
tinged with Millenarian views ; but no one can read the 
work without profit, and surprise at the learning and 
acumen which it displays on every page. At his funeral 
it was no doubt justly said that he was " the most learned 
layman in the Presbyterian Church ;^^ and it might also 
have been said with truth, that he was one of its most 
learned theologians. 

The few hours that we spent with him in the after- 
noon were to us singularly instructive. He spoke with 
radiant eyes of his college days at New Haven, when 
Dr. Timothy Dwight was President of Yale College, 
under whose influence his religious character had been 
formed. He was the oldest of nine children ; and after 
he had by hard struggle prepared himself for the Fresh- 
man class, the understanding was that those who were 
at home, somewhere in Connecticut, should support him 
whilst at college. But family reverses came on, and he 



20 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

was obliged to support himself, and, to some extent, his 
father's family also, by teaching others, whilst he him- 
self was studying all the while. In this way, by his 
energy and industry he assisted his younger brothers in 
acquiring a college education. One of them became a 
distinguished clergyman, and another a civilian, like 
himself. He told us how, by a judicious arrangement 
and economy of time, he had been successful in extend- 
ing his knowledge beyond the boundaries of his own pro- 
fession, and how much satisfaction he derived from such 
pursuits in the wide field of literature. All this was 
bracing and profitable to a youth like myself on the way 
to college. 

Mrs* Jones, — Mrs. Jones, on the other hand, was 
quite his equal in intelligence and force of Christian 
character. At Easton she had observed with interest 
the progress of new life and activity in the Reformed 
church, and volunteered her service, although a member 
of another denomination, to assist in the new work of the 
Sunday-school. She took charge of a class of young 
ladies, and made it her specialty to prepare them in their 
turn to become good teachers. — At the time, of which 
we are here speaking, and for many years afterwards, 
she was active and prominent in the missionary and be- 
nevolent work of her own church, acting usually as the 
presiding officer in various female societies. She was a 
lady of rare culture and refined appearance, and was nat- 



ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE 21 

u rally a leader, without any eiFort on her part to appear 
in that light. — Her advice to us was to be careful in our 
associations, especially with young men who were amia- 
ble and cultivated, but without moral character. She 
presented us with a copy of Bickersteth's Christian Stu- 
dent, which she had purchased at a book- stall to present 
to the first person she met whom she thought it might 
profit. She then vanished from our sight, but her image 
remains impressed on our memory as one of the brightest 
visions of the past — a truly Christian lady. 

By Rail. — The journey from Philadelphia to Har- 
risburg by rail was full of interest : it was far from 
being as tedious as this method of traveling is sometimes 
regarded in our day, when the cars are not running at 
break-neck speed. The seats were hard, not cushioned 
as they are now-a-days, whilst the speed was slow and 
cautious. It was well that it was so, for the cars ran on 
thin slats of iron, apparently ordinary wagon-tire, fast- 
ened to wooden ties, lying lengthwise ; and it was easy 
to see that lightning speed might have thrown all on 
board oflF the track. 

Several times the train had to be drawn up inclined 
planes, but most of the travelers got out and walked up, 
partly, perhaps, from fear that the immense traction 
ropes might break, and partly, perhaps, in order to 
lighten the burden. It afforded the passengers, who 
were all talking of this method of locomotion, an oppor- 



22 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

tunity to examine the engine and see how it worked. 
Many of them like ourselves had most likely never 
traveled on this wise before. They were much prone to 
get out at the various stopping places and take another 
look at the machinery, especially those who seemed to be 
farmers from the country, probably that they might be 
able to tell their wives and children, when they returned 
home, something about this new way of traveling. 

Harrisburg, — With suppressed feelings and quiet 
whispers we crossed the Susquehanna at Harrisburg. 
What if the cars had run off the track and gone down 
into the river ! Of course these lines would have never 
been penned. After we had reached the other side, we 
noticed a sense of relief among our fellow passengers. 
So it seemed at least to us, although the feeling may 
have been purely subjective — confined to ourselves. 

The Capitol — As the iron horse stopped to pant for 
a few moments on the bank, we had an admirable view 
of Harrisburg and its contents. We envied the people 
living on Front Street, who had constantly before them 
the wide river rolling majestically away. The Capitol, 
or State House, was a prominent object in view and 
arrested attention. In its day it was a grand affair, 
with its massive pillars in front, and its symmetrical 
dome above, forming a parallel with the dome of the 
sky, standing comparatively not more than a respectful 
distance behind the Capitol at Washington. But at the 
present day it falls behind the capitols of many other 



ON THE WAY TO COLLEGE 23 

States, even in the West, that are less wealthy than ours. 
The pillars are not of marble or granite, nor of iron as 
they perhaps should be, and when a person walks 
through the beautiful grounds of Capitol Hill, it is dif- 
ficult for him to divest himself of the thought, if not 
the feeling, that they may some day tumble down and 
crumble into dust. The proverbial simplicity and econ- 
omical habits of our people will be adverse to any change 
in this public building ; our State pride and increasing 
wealth will ask for something better. Which will 
prevail ? 

The Susquehanna. — But as in debates most young 
persons vote that the works of Nature are superior to the 
works of Art, so the sight of the Susquehanna from its 
western bank impressed our mind at the time — and it 
has done so ever since — much more than the capital or 
the capitol of the State. It is a lordly, majestic river. 
Rising in one of its branches west of the Alleghanies and 
in another up in the North, somewhere in the State of 
New York, spreading itself out at times to more than a 
mile in breadth, and then contracting its fretted waters 
to hurry through some narrow gorge, it pursues its im- 
perial course through the State to the great Bay below. 

It is interesting at all seasons of the year : in the 
summer, when it seems almost dried up and shows its 
rocky bed, dotted with many a green islet along its wind- 
ing course; in the winter, when it is ice-bound, a ska- 
ting rink, and a good foundation for sleighing ; and in 



24 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

the spring, when the ice breaks up violently, and the 
floods come, carrying with them stacks of lumber, sta- 
bles, houses, and sometimes the long bridges from above. 
The river is full of fish, as well as rocks, and wild fowls 
multiply in secluded retreats on the islands and shores, 
notwithstanding the improved rifle of the sportsman. 
Taken as a whole, it has few superiors: it is eminently 
worthy of the study of the artist, be he poet or painter, 
as well as useful to lumbermen and fishermen. 

The Cumberland Valley, — After we left the Susque- 
hanna we entered the great Cumberland Valley, which, 
however, is only the continuation of one great valley 
extending towards the east and south-west of it for many 
leagues. Here we once more caught a glimpse of the 
Blue Mountains, which to a Pennsylvanian at all fami- 
liar with them, awakens feelings somewhat similar, we 
suppose, to those of the Swiss for their native Alps ; but 
here to the left we saw the South Mountains for the first 
time, which rose up before us in great, native dignity. 
Commencing with the low Lehigh hills on the Del- 
aware, they at length concentrate their strength in the 
Cumberland Valley, and there rival the Kittatinnies, 
here out of respect for such a rival called the North 
Mountain. These mute barriers, running parallel to 
each other, enclosing a rich, fertile valley, are in speak- 
ing distance in the language of nature, and seem to 
whisper to each other of the Power that makes the 
mountains rise. 



CHAPTER II 



Chambersburg in 1839 

A Christian Family. — We arrived at the end of our 
journey by rail in time to spend the Sabbath in Cham- 
bersburg, and had a few days to spare for the purpose of 
looking around. The house of Elder Barnard Wolff 
was always open to clergymen and we were directed to 
go there, where we found a generous hospitality. The 
elder was a pleasant, agreeable Christian gentleman, 
whose character one could not help studying. He was 
serious, thoughtful, and truly religious, with much of 
his youthful vivacity still about him. Prayer and praise 
ascended daily from the family altar, and much of the 
conversation was of a religious and edifying character, 
without being austere or repulsive to others. 

A Reformed Elder. — The elder possessed real, gen- 
uine German humor and had a fund ot interesting anec- 
dotes at his command, pleasant in the social circle, and 
was entertaining to the young as well as the old in con- 
versation. The house was full of sunshine and we 
enjoyed its warmth. Although we received a healthy 
religious training beneath the white spire at Easton, w^e 
were at this time somewhat ascetic, and more than half 
Quaker, in our ideas of the world, its frivolities, its 
3 



26 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

dress, its fashions and its ways. But here we saw na- 
ture and grace happily blended, and moving together in 
natural, healthy freedom. We took a note of it at the 
time : it confirmed us in the opinion that German Re- 
formed piety, of which we sometimes had our doubts, 
might be as good as any other, if it were once properly 
developed. 

An Ecclesiastical Centre. — There were other Reformed 
elders in the town at the time, such as William Heyser, 
John Smith, Lewis Denig and Henry Ruby, who were pil- 
lars in the Church at large, as well as in their own congre- 
gation. Much of their conversation turned on experi- 
mental religion, as it was then called, but much of it 
also on the general affairs of the Church, such as Mis- 
sions, Sunday-schools, Beneficiary Education, the Col- 
lege and the Seminary, and the great necessity of a 
higher standard of piety everywhere. Nearly all of the 
Church treasurers resided at this time at Chambersburg : 
William Heyser was the treasurer of Synod ; John 
Smith, of the Theological Seminary ; Lewis Denig, ot 
the Parent Board of Missions ; and the Rev. B. S. 
Schneck, of the Parent Board of Education. 

The Rev. Jacob Mayer, General Agent of the Semi- 
nary, and afterwards also of the College, had his head- 
quarters here also at this time. He went out on collect- 
ing tours to all parts of the Church, especially to East 
Pennsylvania, and on his return informed the Chambers- 



CHAMBEESBURG IK 1839 27 

burg brethren of what was going on in the churches. 
In this way he performed invaluable services to our 
institutions of learning in their infancy, collected money 
for their support when it was most needed, and with the 
treasurer, John Smith, did much to keep them afloat 
when they were struggling against wind and tide. Both 
had their faults, like other people, and were sharply 
criticised because they did not accomplish more ; but it 
was true of both of them that they " loved their Church 
and her institutions," and did much for them. From 
all this, taken in connection with the fact that the 
Weekly Messenger, the English organ of the Church, 
was published at the same place, it will be seen at once 
that Chambersburg must have been in those days an 
important ecclesiastical centre for the entire Reformed 
Church. It secured this distinction by its location and 
the force of circumstances ; and it must also be admit- 
ted that the men, upon whom responsibilities were laid, 
were well qualified for the important trusts which were 
placed in their hands. The church at Chambersburg in 
1839 was fully up to the times, such as they were, and 
our short stay there was a proper introduction to our 
longer stay at Mercer^burg, which was beginning to be 
a centre also. 

The Rev. Henry L. Rice, — During our conversations 
with the people frequent reference was made to the Rev. 
Henry L. Rice, a former pastor, who had died several 



28 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

years previously, but whose memory, good works and 
noble spirit were still fresh in the recollection of his con- 
gregation. Everybody spoke of him with affection, and 
in terms of high esteem and reverence. His setting 
sun still continued to cast a mild radiance over the minds 
of his people. He had come to us from the Reformed 
Dutch Church, as it was then called, for which the Ger- 
man Reformed always had a high regard ; but being of 
German extraction, he soon felt himself at home in his 
new field of labor, and interested himself at once in all 
its public operations. Whilst he built up his congrega- 
tion in faith and knowledge, and sought to imbue them 
with the spirit of his Master, he took an active part in 
the cause of missions, in our publication interests, and 
especially in the institutions at Mercersburg. 

He had served as the President of the Board of Trus- 
tees of the College, and by his superior intelligence ex- 
erted a controlling influence in changing its character 
from that of a High School into a College, and in secu- 
ring legislative grants for its support' So much was he 
interested in its prosperity that he consented to go out 
and visit the churches as an agent, in order to raise 
funds to meet its pressing wants. Wherever he went 
he was well received, and successful in his efforts. We 
were told by farmers over in Maryland, some of them 
not much inclined to give, that they never contributed 
to useful objects so cheerfully as when Mr. Rice came 



CHAMBEESBURG IN 1839 29 

around to visit them. There must have been a charm 
in the spirit of the man which made itself felt wherever 
he went. His pastorate at Chambersburg, although 
only of brief duration, was attended with blessed results. 
It was easy to see that he had impressed his personality 
upon the minds of his people and imbued them with his 
own generous, public spirit. His good name soon ex- 
tended over the Church, and we had heard of him in 
whispers of affection and love in the distance. At Mer- 
cersburg his visits were always welcome, and his influ- 
ence on the minds of the professors and students alike 
beneficial, as they were ever happ}' to acknowledge. 

But he fell a martyr to the good work on which his 
heart was set, by allowing himself to be burdened with 
too many cares and responsibilities. He pursued the 
objects of his agency during the winter of 1837, in con- 
nection with his pastoral duties at home, so that the col- 
lege might live ; but in the spring he returned from his 
last trip, to die among the people whom he loved. His 
death was a remarkable one and made a deep impression 
on the communitv. It was that of the Christian soldier, 
who died at his post in full armor. Amidst the prayers 
of those standing around his dying bed, Marshall Col- 
lege was uppermost in his mind. He knew that all 
connected with it would be sad when they heard of his 
loss. If its success depended on any human arm, it 
appeared at the time as if that arm was his. When his 



30 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

eye was glazing under the thick filna of darkness, and 
his voice trembled with the huskiness of death, thinking 
of the School of the Prophets, he whispered to a friend 
standing by his bedside : *^Give my love to the Profes- 
sors, and tell them not to despond/' — He is not forgot- 
ten. Many have visited his grave, as we have often 
done, in front of the Reformed church at Chambers- 
burg, where he and his companion, lovely in life, in 
death were not divided. 

A Scotch Preacher, — During the forenoon of the 
Sunday spent at Chambersburg, we attended the Pres- 
byterian church to hear a Scotchman, who was repre- 
sented to be a man of more than ordinary ability. His 
discourse was highly intellectual, and also somewhat 
metaphysical. Among other things he said he could 
not explain why God had sent His Son into the world 
to save meriy and did nothing to save the fallen angels ; 
but he gave it as his own opinion — for what it was worth 
— that it was because men had sprung from a common 
stock by natural descent and had not taken any actual 
part in the first transgression, whilst lost spirits did not 
thus come from a common origin. But who is sure of 
that ? We do not know for certain where they came 
from, or how they were generated ; but analogy would 
lead us to suppose that they, too, descended from some 
one being, if not from Satan himself, then from some 
other forefather, in a system of natural development 



CHAMBEKSBURG IN 1839 31 

similar to our own. The discourse contained many ex- 
cellent thoughts, well expressed ; but it was directed al- 
most exclusively to the intellect, and it was, therefore, 
one-sided. It represented the old school. One extreme 
begets another. 

New-Measures. — In the evening we attended the Re- 
formed church, where we heard a characteristic sermon 
from the Rev. Jacob Helfenstein. It was addressed to 
sinners — not by any means to their heads — and the ter- 
rors of the Lord were depicted in their most fearful col- 
ors as certain to overtake such of them as refused to re- 
pent at once. The discourse was solemn and impressive, 
but morbid and one-sided also, a mere appeal to the 
principle of fear, with little encouragement for the bad 
people to hope for mercy. The church seemed to be 
filled with sulphureous clouds, through which the sun- 
shine of the divine love could scarcely shine, or the still 
small voice of the Spirit be heard. There was fire there, 
but much of it was wild. 

A Strange Benediction. — Such a discourse was wor- 
thy of a consistent and logical conclusion. When the 
preacher, therefore, arose to pronounce the benediction, 
hesitating apparently, as if he did not know whether 
the sinner had time enough to decide after such an ap- 
peal, he said he did not know what to do. He had his 
doubts whether he had any authority to pronounce a 
blessing on impenitent sinners, and seemed to be at a 



32 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

loss to know what to do next. A thought then seemed 
to strike him, and so he pronounced the blessing on 
those who loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and an Anathe- 
ma Maranatha on those who did not, according to his 
text. 

This concluded the services of the evening, in har- 
mony with the revival system at that time in vogue in 
various parts of the country. We had witnessed the 
new methods of building up the Church, or ^^ New- 
Measures/^ as they were then called, in other denomina- 
tions ; but this was the first time that we saw them in 
actual operation in a Reformed church. It arrested our 
attention and led to sundry reflections. 

Rev, Jacob Helfenstein, — Mr. Helfenstein was the 
son of an honored father in the Church, a teacher of 
theology, an orthodox writer and preacher, the Rev. Dr. 
Samuel Helfenstein, of blessed memory. It is said that 
the ministerial office came down to him in a lineal family 
succession from the period of the Reformation. He was 
well educated, a sincere and earnest man, and an im- 
pressive and solemn preacher. For a period of time he 
had been laboring in the interests of another denomina- 
tion, where he, no doubt, felt more free, and thought he 
could do more good in his own way than in his own 
Church. When he received the call to Chambersburg, 
he was preaching and holding religious meetings in New 
York, according to the methods in which he had full 



CHAMBEESBURG IN 1839 33 

confidence. He had heard of the awakening to a new 
religious life among the Reformed people, and no doubt 
felt it to be his duty to return to the Church of his 
fathers, and help the good work along. 

A Misalliance. — Familiar with all the improved 
methods of carrying on a revival, he became the successor 
of Mr. Rice in 1838. Both of them were earnest men in 
their way, but of widely different tendencies. Mr. Rice 
sought to build up the congregation in grace and knowl- 
edge, in harmony with its historical life and its better 
antecedents; Mr. Helfenstein^s system, on the other 
hand, was radical and unhistorical, and tended to impose 
on his church another kind of life, more or less puritan- 
ical or methodistical, which might be good enough in 
its place, but which was out of place in a Lutheran or 
Reformed congregation. It was putting new wine into 
old bottles; and it was not difficult to foresee how it 
was going to work in the end. It was a misalliance, 
which it required only a little common sense — something 
as useful in religion as in other things — to detect. It 
was '^Schwsermerei,^^ with which German people gener- 
ally had little patience : their opposition to it sometimes 
in fact amounted to a want of Christian charity. 

An Explanation, ~ When we came home from chuich, 
I asked Elder Wolff for an explanation, which he seemed 
quite willing to give, as he doubtless thought it was ex- 
pected. He went on to say that as a people they were 



34 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

concerned to have a living, active piety in the congrega- 
tion ; that many church people were asleep in their sins ; 
that there was much barrenness in our congregations ; and 
that our members everywhere needed something to arouse 
them from their stupor and formalism. But, he says, 
^' I do not approve of all that our pastor does ; he is a 
good man, and is trying to do all the good he can ; and 
I do not wish to put any difficulty in his way.^' That 
was satisfactory — just what we might have expected 
from such a sensible man as Mr. WolflF. It threw 
much light on the history of those times. Our Lutheran 
and Reformed people were to a considerable extent driv- 
en into the system of new-measures, with some degree 
of fanaticism, by the force of circumstances, from mere 
expediency, or in the way of self-defence. It did not 
suit their previous history and training ; but they were 
in earnest — wished to see a better state of things in the 
churches, — and many of them did not care how it was 
brought about, if it could only be accomplished in some 
effective way. 

Irreverence, — Mr. Helfenstein, however, did not be- 
long to this class of persons. He was sincere in his 
convictions, acted from principle and had implicit faith 
in the new order, with little or none at all in the old. 
The members of the congregation stood by him, but 
probably most of them thought as did their Elder. The 
young people, not yet confirmed, ladies and gentlemen, 



CHAMBERSBUKG IN 1839 35 

were more free and outspoken ; they did not like their 
pastor, and avoided him wherever they could, hiding 
behind the door or under something else, when he came 
to their houses. This state of things, this want of rev- 
erence for the minister on the part of the young, was 
something new to us, and aifected us strangely. It led 
to the conclusion that they had a sense of incongruity 
somewhere, and that they did not intend to be caught in 
his net. It was our impression that a minister's visit 
everywhere brought good cheer to the household, and 
delighted both young and old. Such is no doubt the 
experience of most of them. 

The Weekly Messenger — The Weekly Messenger, 
however, did more, probably, to give Chambersburg its 
ecclesiastical prestige abroad than anything else. It was 
the result of a series of efforts to supply the Church with 
a paper that would give the people religious information, 
and interest them in its various benevolent operations. 
With the revival of religious life in the churches, the 
missionary spirit was aroused and became intensely 
active. As if awakened out of a long dream, ministers 
and elders looked around and saw that something ought 
to be done at once, or it would be soon too late. The 
Church seemed to be going to destruction. 

Missionary Society. — The Missionary Society was 
formed; but what could it do in those days? Means 
were wanting and ministers were not at hand to meet 



36 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

the crisis. The fathers took a sensible view of the mat- 
ter. They started an organ, first a monthly Magazine, 
then the Messenger every two weeks, and at last, in 
1835, the Weekly Messenger. It was published under 
the auspices of the Missionary Society for a number of 
years; so it was stated on the first page, and, in addi- 
tion, that the *^ profits were to be devoted to missionary 
purposes/^ We never heard that there were any pecu- 
niary "profits^^ resulting from this arrangement; but 
the paper was profitable to the Church in a higher sense 
than that which was purely financial. Through it as an 
organ the Society could speak to the churches and urge 
the claims not only of missions, but also of beneficiary 
education, the college and the seminary. They were 
closely connected, and the Society seemed to have some 
supervision over all of them at first, as forming one and 
the same interest. Their newly established organ was 
brim-full of appeals, of plans, and exhortations to make 
sacrifices, and to give liberally in sustaining the various 
enterprizes which it had in hand. It was now a large 
weekly, with more matter in it than most city papers, per- 
vaded with a Christian spirit, giving news of what other 
churches were doing as well as our own, with interesting 
selections, all calculated to promote personal piety, and 
furnishing weekly indications of a new life in various 
parts of its own denomination. Our people were quite 
proud of it at the time. The ladies in the larger towns 



CHAMBEESBURG IN 1839 ' 37 

and cities appear on its pages quite as active as the men, 
in their efforts to build up the broken down walls of 
Zion. 

The Editor. — Its editor, the Rev. B. S. Sehneck, was 
a sprightly writer, with journalistic ability, and a keen 
eye to select edifying articles for his readers. His paper 
compared favorably with the religious papers of other 
denominations, and it is perhaps only just to say that on 
the whole it was one of the best of its kind. — The Ger- 
man paper, Die Christliche Zeitschrift, was published 
elsewhere, but it soon afterwards joined the Messenger 
and appeared side by side with it in the same centre of 
church life. 

Its Tone. — The tone of the Messenger, however, at 
this period in regard to various vital points can hardly 
be said to have been sufficiently pronounced. Its selec- 
tions from other religious papers were numerous, and 
brought in with them largely the spirit of other denomi- 
nations, so that it was difficult for the readers to under- 
stand exactly what the German Reformed Church was. 
It disapproved of the excesses of the revival system, but 
it said little or nothing about its animating spirit. Its 
private opinion was probably not very decided either one 
way or the other, like that of many others. Its position, 
however, whether intentionally or not, rather encouraged 
the system than otherwise. It was practical and pietistic 
in its tendency, and the absence of articles that set forth 



38 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

the doctrines of the Church or the claims of the Cate- 
chism was marked, and in itself something significant. 

Not Churchly, — The Catechism was not a living 
thing for the Church as a whole, and the necessity of 
thorough catechetical instruction as a preparation for 
confirmation was but feebly enforced. It had lost its 
prestige. The Creed had not yet come uppermost on 
its pages. It said nothing about Christmas, Good Fri- 
day, Easter, or Whitsuntide. These seasons came and 
went, and its readers were scarcely made aware of the 
fact that they had come like good angels to quicken and 
encourage the churches. In those days, and afterwards, 
too, there were ministers themselves who, in the Spring, 
could not always tell exactly whether Easter, and much 
less Whitsuntide, was past or was still to come. This 
was not true, however, of the Church as a whole, and 
least of all of its German portions, where these days were 
still embalmed in the piety and affections of our people. 
The Church Year, the Creed, and Doctrine, as living 
things, were to come up afterwards, as the denomination 
awaked to a fuller consciousness of its history and mis- 
sion. It was doing the best that it could in the circum- 
stances, struggling to reach a higher plane of Christian 
life ; and the same may be said of the Messenger, which, 
if it lacked in Reformed fire — Geist — performed an im- 
portant service to the cause of religion in the Church at 
this point in its history. 



CHAMBERSBURG IN 1839 39 

Other Reformed Elders, — The congregation at Cham- 
bersbarg was a type of other congregations in this pari 
of the State, in Maryland and Virginia, where divine 
services were conducted in the English language ; they 
w:ere also showing new signs of life and activity, with 
more or less bias for the new-measures of the day. We 
met with Reformed elders, like those at Chambersburg, 
much concerned about the vital interests of their denom- 
ination, fully abreast with their pastors, and not seldom 
in advance of them. Such came from time to time to 
Mercersburg to walk about Zion, to discharge official 
duties as trustees, or to bring their sons to college, where 
they might imbibe the spirit of their Church, as well as 
receive an intellectual training. It was refreshing to 
converse with them — plain, practical business men, who 
had the interests of Christ's Kingdom at heart, no less 
than that of their own branch of His Church. They came 
from Greencastle, Waynesboro, Mercersburg, from dif- 
ferent parts of Maryland and Virginia, Hagerstown, 
Frederick, Baltimore, Shepherdstown, Martinshurg and 
some other places. Their number was comparatively 
small and the work before them one of large propor- 
tions ; but they did what they could in their day, tried 
to lay good foundations, and looked for the divine bles- 
sing on what they did. Like elder William Heyser, 
they made some of the best speeches at Synod or Classis. 
They have long ago rested from their labors, and their 
works do follow them. 



40 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

The Lutherans, — The condition of things in the Lu- 
theran churches, at this period of transition, was gener- 
ally similar to what it was in the Reformed. They were 
everywhere waking up, where the English language was 
used in divine services, and almost carried off of their 
feet by the swelling tide that was coming in from the 
heavenly country. They were also busy with their in- 
stitutions of learning, their missionary work, and in 
their efforts to supply their people with a well trained 
ministry. In some respects they were in advance of the 
Reformed. But notwithstanding their orthodoxy and 
churchly tendencies, their pietism, which was historical, 
broke out ; and apparently regardless of tradition or 
creed, many of them fell in with the new-measure sys- 
tem of the day with characteristic vim, and even left 
others behind in the race. Thev in fact had much to do 
in drawing the Reformed along with them into a vor- 
tex ; but as we shall see hereafter, when we come to speak 
further on this subject, the Reformed, on the other hand, 
in the course of time helped to drag them out again. 

An Aged Couple, — As we walked about this strong- 
hold of Zion in its day at Chambersburg, we came 
across an aged couple who had come down from a for- 
mer generation : Christian Wolff, for many years a 
magistrate in the town, and his wife, the parents of the 
Elder. They spoke of the past and told us about our 
old ministers at Lancaster, Hendel, Faber, Helfenstein 



CHAMBERSBURa IN 1839 41 

and Becker, then long ago gone to their rest. The 
father when a boy had carried the mail between Lan- 
caster and Philadelphia when Cornwallis surrendered ; 
and the mother described to us what a fine looking Eng- 
lish gentleman Major Andre was when he was a pri- 
soner at Lancaster, and she still a young maiden. These 
aged people lived most of their time in the past ; but it 
was interesting to see how much they were interested in 
the movements of the present, and how glad they were 
that the Church of their forefathers was rising up out or 
its desolations, and taking its proper place in the work 
of the Lord. 

A Note, — We found that we were in a section of 
country where the Scotch Irish people, — somewhat but 
not altogether new to us, — were the ruling class, and from 
this time onward they became to us an object of study. 
They were the first to take possession of the Cumberland 
Valley ; but the Germans from the eastern counties had 
followed in their track, and now like Trojans and Tyr- 
ians, they were living together with them in peace and 
harmony. The Presbyterian congregations were weak- 
ened by emigration, whilst Reformed and Lutheran 
churches were growing in strength and numbers. The 
citizens of Chambersburg generally, were interested in 
the success of the institutions at Mercersburg as a public 
enterprise. 



CHAPTER III 



Mercersburg 

Two Seniors. — Our stay at Chambersburg was in va- 
rious ways instructive, and we left with regret to enter 
upon new scenes and new experiences. At Greencastle 
we had to dispense with cars and take the stage for Mer- 
cersburg, on a gloomy, rainy day. Our fellow travelers 
were two Seniors, who gave us an inside view of college 
life from their standpoint. Insensibly we fell into a 
debate on the temperance question. They advocated 
temperance in opposition to total abstinence, on philo- 
sophical grounds, and cited the cases of great writers 
like Byron, who were said to have written some of their 
best works under the influence of brandy. In the end 
they denounced the temperance movement under its 
new phase with great vehemence as fanaticism ; and were 
particularly sarcastic on Professor Smith, who was a 
tee-totaler, and yet had been seen eating mince-pie with 
liquor in it with great gusto. It proved as they im- 
agined the insincerity of the strict temperance advocates. 
It was evident that temperance discussions had entered 
the college circle, which were useful in such places, and 
had there produced some fermentation. The cause was 
beginning to maintain its claims in many other direc- 



MERCERSBURG 43 

tions ; but it had Dot yet succceeded in carrying out any 
of its many useful reforms. The liquor interest laughed 
it to scorn, and most people regarded it as a wild scheme, 
which would do no good and most likely do harm. 
Since then it has made vast strides. 

Politeness, — After the discussion had ended, my new 
friends professed great interest in my welfare, express- 
ing some fear that I as a backward Sophomore might 
not get enough to eat in the refectory ; but informing me 
that, if the tempting food should be snatched away be- 
fore I could catch it, as in the case of Tantalus, I should 
inform them and they would see to it that I was kept 
from starving. True to their word, they looked after 
me occasionally in the college, but I never needed their 
services, as I always had an abundance of wholesome 
food. Mrs. Foltz was a good cook and always provided 
well for her boarders. As Prof. Budd sat at one end of 
the table and Mr. Young, tutor, at the other, there was 
good order, and all did eat and were satisfied. In turn 
we also sometimes looked after our two Senior friends, 
and tried to win them over to a safer way of thinking, 
fearing that their broad principles might lead them to 
destruction. Others did the same thing without success ; 
but in the course of time they were both saved by grace, 
and became useful members of the Christian Church. 

Students are sometimes fond of telling yorns to ex- 
cite wonder, and so it was in this case. We found those 



44 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

who were at Mercersburg, as a general thing, to be gen- 
tlemen. So we had reason to expect, as they came from 
good families. Whatever their private life was, they 
had their code of honor and politeness : one of its rules 
was, that no student should be allowed to swear or curse 
in the presence of a professor of religion. Thoughtlessly, 
on one occasion, this was violated ; but the transgressor 
was required to make an apology, or he would have lost 
caste among his friends. 

Scenery. — When we arrived at the hill on the east 
of Mercersburg, named Schcene Aussicht in honor of Dr. 
Schaff, we had a fine prospect before us. The village 
did not impress us favorably at first, partly, perhaps, 
because it was raining and drizzling all day : the sight 
was rather sad and depressing. In the spring and sum- 
mer it presented a much more respectable appearance. 
The scenery around, however, was interesting and in 
fact very beautiful, as we thought. 

A Description. — The description given of it annually, 
for many years, in the College Catalogue, drawn by a 
master-hand, was, as the students, at least, all believed, 
very truthful, and in itself beautiful as well as the sce- 
nery itself. ^* Mercersburg,'^ says the writer, ^Ms a vil- 
lage of about twelve hundred inhabitants, situated in the 
south-western part of Franklin County, in the midst of a 
fertile lime-stone region, at the distance of an hour's 
walk from the base of what is called the North Moun- 



MERCERSBURG 45 

tain. The scenery formed by the mountains, which 
bend around it like a vast crescent or amphitheatre, 
contrasting, as it does, with a rich open country below, 
is absolutely splendid/^ In the same connection, these 
natural surroundings were very properly urged as con- 
siderations in favor of Mercersburg as a proper place for 
young persons to secure an education. " Scenery,'^ it is 
added, "is always educational. The objects that sur- 
round the spirit in the years especially of college life, 
work upon it continually with a plastic force, the im- 
pressions of which can never afterwards be wholly lost. 
They stamp their image upon the very constitution of 
the soul.^^ 

Mount Parnell to the north, high up in the clouds, 
where the harvests come two weeks later than on the 
plain below, forms the northern horn of this " vast cres- 
cent or amphitheatre,'^ and Two Tops on the south, 
rivaling it in boldness of outline, form the southern 
horn or extremity, with the village of Mercersburg 
somewhere on a straight line in the middle. The storms 
in winter or summer coming dovvn from the mountains 
on the north-west are sublime, quite as much as those 
described by Homer in ancient times, no doubt. The sun 
descending in the evening midway between the beacon 
mountains to the right and the left just referred to, 
casting his last rays on floating cloud or distant mountain 
height, sets here in a flood of glory, and seems to sit 



46 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIOXS 

for the moment in royal magnificence on the throne of 
nature. Heaven and earth thus seem to meet at each 
closing day, and the supremacy of the one over the 
other to be demonstrated in lines of light. Nature every- 
where subserves the wants of man ; and she certainly did 
her best for Mercersburg as a seat of learning. 

The Jouimey Ended. — The Greencastle stage, rattling 
through the village, landed us at length fair and square 
in front of the Seminary Building, not on pavements of 
any kind, but in thick clay soil, whose condition was 
determined by the state of the weather. Extricating 
ourselves as best we could, and without being discour- 
aged or prevented from looking around, we made a pre- 
liminary survey of what was before us. There was as 
yet no wall or fence around the campus, and no trees as 
yet planted to give the promise of classic shades. These 
and many other attractions still lay involved in the 
womb of the future. It was quite manifest that here 
only a beginning had been made, and that much still 
remained to be done. We were, however, confronted 
with a fine building before us, terminating with a 
graceful cupola on the top and supported by an ample 
Grecian portico in front, with large pillars * in the Ionic 
style of architecture. On either side stood the houses of 
the professors, whose style was in keeping with the main 
building. It afforded ample room for both college and 
theological students, libraries, recitation rooms and other 



MERCERSBURG 47 

purposes. Our first impressions, on trying to get out of 
the clay soil, were favorable. There was here, at least, 
a commencement, and it could not be said that it was 
being made in the back-woods. 

At College.— Mr. Theodore C. W. Hoffeditz from 
Eastern Pennsylvania, one of the first that had as yet 
gone to college with a German name from that section 
of the State, looked after us at once and provided for 
us. We found our quarters in the fourth story of the 
building in a snug harbor of a room, already furnished 
for our use by the ladies of the Easton congregation, 
where we could look out over the burg, and " hold com- 
munion with the loveliness and freedom of nature in her 
brightest forms,^^ as well as draw water from the foun- 
tains of learning and science. — The students' rooms, 
differing from those that we have seen in some other col- 
lege buildings — intended, apparently, to crowd together 
as many students as possible without regard for their 
health — were well constructed for the purpose intended, 
large, airy, with high ceilings and transom windows. 
There was little sickness in that building, and no deaths 
at all, as long as the College remained at Mercersburg, un- 
til 1853. There was one case of sickness that was very 
serious, which would have probably resulted in death, 
if the patient had been confined to a small room down 
in the town. But supplied with pure air all around, in 
the room and wide corridors, he rallied, and is still living, 
a learned Doctor of Divinity. 



48 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

How it Began, — Mercersburg, like most places of 
the same kind in this country, became the seat of a town, 
not so much on account of its picturesque scenery, as for 
reasons of a more utilitarian character. The early set- 
tlers around the place belonged to that tide of Scotch 
emigration, which first poured into the Cumberland 
Valley, and regardless of danger did not stop until it 
was arrested for a time by the barriers of the mountains. 
They were a courageous class of people, who were not 
afraid of the Indians, although they suffered untold cru- 
elties at their hands, whilst forming their acquaintance. 

A mill was needed in this part of the county, and 
as a mountain stream, a confluent of the Conococheague, 
supplied the necessary water-power, a mill was erected 
on it as far back as the year 1729 by Mr. William 
Black, on the north side of what became afterwards the 
village of Mercersburg. It was the first advance of 
civilization in this direction and the nucleus of a settle- 
ment. The mountain stream has been running ever 
since, and the mill also, with improved machinery, sup- 
plying the people with the staff of life. For many 
miles around settlers, and frontiermen from the moun- 
tains and coves, brought their grist to the miller to be 
ground as soon as possible, so that they might returu 
home the same day. But some had to wait half of a 
day or more until their turn came, and thus the mill 
became a gathering place where common interests were 



MERCERSBURG 49 

considered, stories of wild animals narrated, and the best 
means of getting along with the Indians discussed. 

Houses gradually sprung up around the mill, and 
before very long a frontier settlement, and then a store, 
where the people obtained articles of use, as well as their 
daily bread. In the year 1786, one of the Smiths, of 
whom there have been a great many in this section of 
the county, the owner of the mill, laid out a town, 
which was at first called after his name, but subsequent- 
ly Mercersburg after General Hugh Mercer, who fell at 
the battle of Trenton. It is said that this hero once 
remained over night in the village. In the course of 
time it became a thriving and enterprising place : the 
centre of traffic for the Indians and frontiermen from 
the region round about and over the mountains. A 
large amount of trade passed through the town on pack- 
horses on the way to the new settlements west of the 
mountains, all of which gave animation and profit to the 
place. — The natural goes before the spiritual, and so 
Mercersburg, first having supplied the people with nat- 
ural food, afterwards furnished them with that which 
was mental and spiritual. 

The Germans, — The upper branches of the Conoco- 
cheague — in the Indian language Gu-ne-uk-is-schick, 
meaning " Indeed a long way" — was at first settled ex- 
cusively by the Scotch, or Scotch Irish, as they were com- 
monly called ; the Germans had not yet made their ap- 



50 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

pearance in this region, and not for many years after- 
wards, although they were on the way ; but they were 
already settling in the lower Conococheague country, 
along the Potomac, at a very early day. Michael Schlatter 
in 1748 came into Maryland from his trip in Virginia to 
the neighborhood of Clearspring, Md., where he preached 
to a congregation of Germans, at the " house of an hon- 
est Swiss," where he found a grateful resting place after 
his long journey. His Journal furnishes some interest- 
ing hints of the state of the country during the times of 
which we are here writing. He found many Indians 
still in the country, who were " well disposed and very 
obliging, and not disinclined towards Christians, unless 
they were made drunk by strong drink." The fields 
were fruitful, producing Turkish corn (maize), some of 
its " stalks being more than ten feet long." On this 
trip he saw deer in droves, and met a fearful rattlesnake, 
'^ seven or eight feet long and five inches thick across 
the back." It seems now a pity that he did not go 
higher up the Indian stream ; and with his own feet 
consecrate the soil on which the fruits of his labors long 
afterwards appeared ; but if he should have gone there, 
he would not have found any of his fellow countrymen 
anywhere for many miles around. 

Scotch Irish. — The Scotch Irish along the west 
branch of the Conococheague were a courageous, intel- 
ligent class of people, well educated, and anxious to 



MERCERSBURG 51 

educate themselves still further, in the way of self- 
improvement. They were skillful in expressing them- 
selves in public, an art which, born with them, they 
improved by their debating schools, kept up during the 
long winter evenings. They were accordingly always 
felt at the political meetings of the county or at court in 
the jury box. When they were called on, accordingly, 
they could present some one of their number to represent 
their district in positions of trust and responsibility. 
Judge Smith sat on the bench at Chambersburg as As- 
sociate Judge ; Mr. William McKinstry was an able 
member of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Tho- 
mas Carson of the Senate ; Mr. William Finlay, born 
in 1768 at Mercersburg, filled the gubernatorial chair 
from 1817 to 1820 ; and James Buchanan, a native of 
the same neighborhood, became the fifteenth President 
of the United States. 

A Note. — Mr. McKinstry, the Squire, as he was 
called, went with the dominant party in opposition to 
most of his neighbors, who were Whigs ; but he became 
disgusted with politics, when his party suffered one of 
its first defeats. He built for himself a fine house a 
short distance out of the village along the pike, calling 
it Lastly Hall, and put up in front of it a high brick 
wall, which had somewhat the appearance of a barricade. 
When asked by an officious neighbor why he erected 
such g, high wall, he curtly replied : " To keep the Anti- 



52 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Masons out." This, however, was not the last house 
which he built. Subsequently becoming more social, he 
erected a much larger structure in the centre of the town, 
which added much to its appearance. He was a useful 
and enterprising citizen, and did much for its prosperity. 

Thdr Gayety. — The Scotch were a serious, thoughtful 
people ; but with all their gravity, there was a consider- 
able degree of gayety and fashion among them in early 
times, often running into extravagance and a waste of 
time. An old physician, residing on the other side of 
the Valley, once told us that he commenced his medical 
studies at Mercersburg, but there were so many parties 
and entertainments in the place that he felt compelled to 
retreat and pursue his studies elsewhere, so as to be able 
to husband his time as well as his resources. The pas- 
sion for dancing among the young was so strong that it 
taxed the pastors not a little to correct it. It is said 
that one of them made it the subject of a special prayer 
or collect in the Sunday services, and that this had a 
better effect than all their preaching on the subject. 

Their Seriousness. — But from the beginning this peo- 
ple wer^ decidedly religious, according to the strict 
Presbyterian order. They had suffered on account of 
their faith in Ireland, and they had carried it with them 
in their hearts when they crossed the ocean. Their first 
meeting-house was erected along the banks of the Cono- 
cocheague, a few miles from town, where the fathers 



MERCERSBURG 53 

worshipped, when the country was still a wilderness. 

The men carried their rifles with them and stacked them 

around the church for use, in case they w^ere attacked by 

the Indians, whilst they worshipped God in the inside. 

There was no doubt much true devotion here in what 

was at first a howling wilderness, among these Scotch 

pilgrims. 

** They shook the depth of the desert gloom 
With their hymns of lofty cheer.'' 

'*And the sounding isles of the dim woods rang 
To the anthems of the free." 

After the first generation had passed away the coun- 
try around smiled under the hand of industry, and on 
Sundays the ground all around the Old White Church 
was covered with vehicles, whilst the church was 
crowded with worshippers. The fathers and mothers 
were resting in their graves, and their descendants now 
worshiped under their own vine and iSg-tree, none dar- 
ing to molest them or make them afraid. 

"Ay, call it holy ground, 

The soil where first they trod." 

Two sermons were delivered each Lord's day, separ- 
ated by an intermission, which were very long and full 
of doctrine as well as comfort. The pastors were learned 
divines, among the most able in the denomination, and 
faithful in their pastoral work. They were accustomed 
to look well after their flocks. According to an admirable 
custom, which they brought with them from the father- 



54 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

land, but now unfortunately fallen into disuse, at stated 
times they catechized the old as well as the young in 
companies, or from house to house. It was a salutary 
custom. The people were well indoctrinated and all of 
one faith. 

Changes, — Changes, however, in the course of time 
took place, some for the better and some for the worse, 
but there was progress in the community. The old ver- 
sion of the Psalms was no longer sung in the church, 
and Watts' version "with Suitable Hymns'' took their 
place. The sermons were reduced to half of their for- 
mer length; the old church in the country was less 
frequented, — for the most part out of respect for the 
past, — and the church in the town became the principal 
place of worship. Dr. Thomas Creigh, the pastor, ad- 
vanced with the times, led his people into green past- 
ures, and lived long among them, honored, respected 
and revered. His congregation was united, and was one 
of the strongest and most intelligent in the Valley, in 
which Barnes' Notes met with little favor and did little 
to assist the Sunday-school teachers in their preparations 
for their classes. 

Progress, — But the church building looked old on 
the outside and in the inside dark and dingy, in unfa- 
vorable contrast with the houses of many of its mem- 
bers. It had the appearance more of a meeting-house 
than of a church, being still without steeple or bell. But 



MERCERSBURG 55 

progress in such things was to be the work of the future. 
In the course of time old Squire McKinstry pur- 
chased a bell for the church on his own responsibility 
and made the congregation a present of it. For some 
time it was ignored, but at length it was accepted, a 
steeple erected in which it now hangs, and the former 
house repaired and transformed into a modern church 
building. In the interior everything now is in good taste, 
and a fine organ leads and enlivens the devotions on the 
Lord's day. Similar progress in church art, we are 
happy to learn, has shown itself at last among the Se- 
ceders. In the place of the old house of worship, which 
appeared harsh, and uninviting in its day, there is now 
an entirely new building in the best style of church ar- 
chitecture, one of the finest in the county. It was to a 
large extent, we are told, the gift of some of the younger 
Carsons, who had wandered ofi* to the larger cities and 
made money, but without losing their affections for their 
mountain home, or their old form of worship. 

Other Churches. — The Methodists, in this orderly and 
somewhat undemonstrative religious community, were 
somewhat noisy during our college days ; but they had an 
idea to uphold, and they also upheld it, with their wonted 
tenacity. They insisted in their own way that some- 
thing more is needed in religion than orthodoxy, that 
religion is an affair of the heart as well as of the head, 
and that Christians ought to take up the cross and let 



56 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

their light shine. As a denomination they have been 
an unspeakable blessing to this county, to other denomi- 
nations as well as themselves, however much we may 
differ from them as it regards their methods and style. 
The Reformed and Lutheran churches, made up largely 
of members from the country, were still in the rear of 
their English brethren ; but they had an idea of Christi- 
anity also, which they could not yet exactly express, and 
which, moreover, required time and much hard struggle 
to bring to its proper expression. From this it will ap- 
pear that Mercersburg was not an unsuitable place for 
the location of a literary community in its midst. All 
things considered and fairly weighed, it was one of the 
best. 

Mr. Buchanan^s Birth-Place. — The birth-place of 
Mr. Buchanan, it is well known, is not far from the vil- 
lage of Mercersburg, about an hour's walk. It has be- 
come justly celebrated. The students and others often 
made pilgrimages to it as a sacred shrine. 

Entering a ravine and following for some distance a 
small brook of sparkling water, overhung with trees and 
vines, the visitor at length reaches a small clearing, 
called " Stony Batter'^ by the traders of the olden times, 
where he has no outlook except towards the blue heavens 
above. It is forests and hills all around, relieved only 
by a glimpse of the pike running near by, in its winding 
course of six miles across the Cove Mountain. Here 



MERCERSBUEG 57 

are still to be seen the remains of an old orchard and the 
ruins of two log-cabins. In this secluded glen, encir- 
cled by high and rugged mountains, outside of civiliza- 
tion, Mr. James Buchanan was born in the year 1791. 
His father, a Scotch trader, lived in one of these cabins, 
and had a store in the other, where he carried on a small 
but profitable traffic with the Indians and the frontier- 
men. At that time Stony Batter presented much more 
lively scenes than it does now, or hasever since. A con- 
siderable portion of the trade with Pittsburgh and the 
western counties passed along the neighboring pike on 
horseback, and crowds of carriers assembled, often daily, 
around the little store previous to their ascent of the 
mountain, to purchase such articles as they supposed 
they would stand in need of on their journey. Little 
** Jamie,^^ with his bright blue eyes and his fair white 
skin, was as happy as the little brook that flowed smil- 
ing along below the house. His mother, engaged in 
household duties, or assisting the father in attending to 
the customers in the store, according to tradition, was 
accustomed to put a cow-bell around his neck in the 
morning, so that she could always hear where he was 
during the day, or find him if he wandered too far away 
and lose himself among the thickets. This was a wise 
precaution, because the mountains were still infested 
with bears, wild-cats and panthers, and it was dangerous 
for grown persons to venture out too far without a gun. 
5 



68 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

His Youth, — In a few years the Scotch trader accu- 
mulated considerable means at his mountain home, 
moved to Mercersburg, commenced business there and 
became a prominent citizen of a place where rank was 
difiBcult to reach. The son took no airs upon himself, 
was amiable, good natured, and for the sake of peace 
endured many indignities, until they became intolerable, 
when he turned upon his tormentors and flogged them. 
So we were told by elderly people at Mercersburg who 
knew him in his youth. His father prospering in trade, 
concluded to send him to Dickinson College at Carlisle, 
which was then in high repute, and took him there 
himself, riding with him on the same horse. As he 
rode out of town an old woman ran out into the street 
and told him that he should do no such a thing, that it 
would ruin his son if he should take him to college ; 
and if he did go there, he would never come to anything. 

His Mothefi\ — Mrs. Buchanan was a high-minded, 
but pious. Christian woman. She imbued her distin- 
guished son with deep religious sentiments in his youth, 
which he never for a moment lost amidst the storms and 
struggles of political life. He was always a religious 
man, observed the Sabbath, and was a praying man 
long before he connected himself with the Church. He 
was kind to the poor, benevolent in his feelings, free 
from vice, moral in his conduct, a model of a cultured 
gentleman, and always spoke reverently of his mother. 



MERCERSBURG 59 

In his later days he reviewed the whole subject of 
Christianity, carefully and critically, and with the full 
vigor of his intellect made a profession of his faith in 
Christ, which he regretted that he had not done long 
before. — He was always fond of visiting Mercersburg, 
which he regarded as his native place. Whilst United 
States Senator he frequently attended the Commence- 
ments, where he was at all times a welcome guest. These 
annual gatherings fell in fully with his refined tastes, 
and he enjoyed them as if he were once more a student 
himself. He there seemed to be more fond of having 
students around him than politicians. He gave of his 
means to assist the college in its infancy at Mercersburg, 
and then afterwards at Lancaster, where he was the first 
president of its Board of Trustees. 

Harriet Lane, — Whilst Mr. Buchanan was at this 
time a United States Senator of high rank, representing 
his own great State with honor and ability, his niece, 
Miss Harriet Lane, was still in her teens, a school girl 
at Mercersburg. She might be seen daily on the street 
on her way to school, or of a summer's evening promen- 
ading with her companions under the elms in front of 
her father's store. As we still see her in the dim past, 
we are reminded of Mr. Burke's description of a young 
lady, subsequently distinguished in history, as she ap- 
peared when he first saw her in Paris — "a morning 
star, just above the horizon." 



60 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Mrs, Young^s School, — Mrs. Young was the widow 
of the Rev. Daniel Young, who had been professor in 
the Theological Seminary at York. After his early 
death in 1831, she established a High School at York 
for young ladies, and when the High School for young 
men was removed to Mercersburg, she removed her 
school to the same place. 

It was a prosperous and useful institution, and no 
one was better calculated to take charge of it than Mrs. 
Young. She possessed many rare gifts, was well edu- 
cated herself, cultivated and refined in her manners, and 
by her motherly character well adapted to direct in the 
formation of true female character in those placed under 
her charge. Her school always stood in close connection 
with the college at Mercersburg. She was accustomed 
to bring her flock of boarders with her to attend divine 
services in the college chapel on Sunday morning, where 
their presence was always felt, and seen in the better 
decorum and self-respect of the students. Their absence 
on a stormy day was also seen in the dress and every-day 
appearance of the collegians. — Mrs. Young, with her 
sister, Mrs. Dr. Ranch, by their dignity, their superior 
intelligence, and Christian spirit, entered as valuable 
factors in the development of the life and character of 
the literary and theological community at Mercersburg. 

The Colored People, — One of the most prominent 
objects that arrested the attention of a new-comer at 



MERCEESBURG 61 

Mercersburg in 1839, was the large colored population.' 
They crowded the back streets, and when there was no 
longer any room for them there, in their crowded tene- 
ments, they emigrated to the foot of the mountain, where 
they started a village of their own and called it Africa. 
These Africans, however, spent most of their time during 
the day in the town. Most of them were runaways, or 
their offspring, from the South. Knowing very little of 
geography or the points of the compass, the Virginia 
slaves all knew that the North and South Mountains 
ran into Pennsylvania, and that if they would follow 
them for a few days or nights, they would reach the land 
of freedom. Avoiding German settlements on account 
of language, they came from the mountains to Mercers- 
burg, where, finding that the people spoke English, 
which they could understand, they settled down and 
opened their homes to as many refugees as knocked at 
their doors or windows in the still hours of the night. 

These people worked among the farmers during the 
summer, and earned money, but spent it all in the early 
fall before the winter set in. They then stood on the 
corners of the streets shivering with cold, waiting *to do 
some small chores, so as to earn a few pennies. 

Their Religious Instincts. — There were good and bad 
among them, but all seemed to have strong religious 
instincts, and were much inclined to attend religious 
worship. As. they had no church of their own, the Pres- 



62 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

byterian congregation provided for their religious wants 
as far as it could, and allowed them to occupy the gal- 
leries of their old church. They were orderly, and the 
solemn style of the worship exerted a humanizing and 
christianizing effect upon their minds. One of the Pres- 
byterian ladies. Miss Margaret Brownson, established a 
Sunday-school for them, in the old stone school house 
back of the church, where Dr. Ranch and Prof. Budd first 
heard their classes recite. She called into requisition 
the services of the students, and gave them an opportu- 
nity to engage in missionary work. The colored people, 
who looked upon the students as a wonderful class of 
persons, duly appreciated their well meant efforts to do 
them good. 

But negroes are strongly emotional and delight in 
prayer meetings, where they have more freedom to ex- 
press their feelings. Naturally they admire bravery on 
the one hand and piety on the other, and so they formed 
a collect or prayer of their own which embodied their 
view of the Christian life. It was to the effect that they 
might all be as brave as a Presbyterian captain (in the 
Late War) and as pious as a Methodist class-leader. 

Slave- Catchers, — In a place like Mercersburg, where 
there were so many runaways — most of them en route 
for Canada or the North Star — the business of slave- 
catching naturally sprung up. It was looked upon with 
horror by most persons, and to the colored people the 



MERCERSBURG 63 

boss ia the firm appeared as the personification of all 
wickedness. It was attended with considerable danger, 
and it is strange that he was never punished. He kept 
out of danger himself; but a young man in his employ 
was cut through with a scythe on a hay-loft, out at the 
mountain, where he attempted to capture an infuriated 
negro. It awakened in those not familiar with such 
scenes strange, weird feelings. They had heard of kid- 
nappers whilst they were still children as a check to 
roving too far from home, or read them only in story 
books. Here they were a reality. It was a blot on the 
town. — 

Two negroes rose to distinction, according to their 
own cherished ideas of greatness. Arnold Brooks, a 
tall muscular mulatto, full of talk, afraid of nothing by 
day or night, was the chief coachman, who could drive 
his coach full of students into or out of town according 
to the most improved rules. He was a hero, much ad- 
mired by the students as well as his brethren. He al- 
ways espoused the side of the former, and looked upon 
Dr. Nevin with great reverence as the head man of the 
town. David Johnson, as black as if he had just come 
from Guinea, on the other hand, was the personification of 
meekness, honesty and piety. He made the beds of the 
students, carried up their wood in a rack, and occasion- 
ally submitted to a practical joke, in a way that was a 
rebuke to its author. He was horrified at profane Ian- 



64 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

guage or wicked conduct of any kind, and did his best 
to bring up his children in the fear of the Lord. 

The Germans. — The Germans, following closely in 
the footsteps of the Scotch Irish, in the course of time 
appeared in Franklin county, and by the year 1839 had 
become pretty numerous around Mercersburg itself, and 
owned their full share of the land. Many of the de- 
scendants of the original settlers emigrated to the West 
or the South, or moved away into the towns and cities^ 
When a good farm was advertised for sale, it was not 
long before a German farmer from some eastern county 
came along, and as he had the money in hand, he pur- 
chased the land and settled down in his new home. 
Thus entered a new element into the community, appar- 
antly a new race, with new blood. At first, before the 
two classes could fairly understand each other on account 
of language, they stood pretty far apart, and occasion- 
ally, at elections or public gatherings, there were alter- 
cations and some difference of opinion as to which was 
the best man, the Dutchman or the Irishman, which in 
some cases unfortunately led to bloodshedding, although 
never on a large scale. The Scotchman from the Lowlands 
of Scotland and the Gerjtnan belong to the same great 
Germanic race ; and it was not long before they found 
it out here in Pennsylvania, or at least felt it, if they did 
not know it. The one by his superior intelligence shar- 
pened the wit of the other, whilst the latter by his in- 



MERCERSBURG 65 

dustry and natural sagacity taught the former lessons of 
industry and frugality, and how to farm his land to the 
best advantage. They were thus a mutual benefit to 
each other. In religion they also learned that they were 
not so far apart as they had at first supposed ; not so 
far off certainly, as some supposed who seemed to imag- 
ine that the German had no religion at all, probably 
because he did not speak much about it or show so much 
of it in his face. The Presbyterian learned that the 
Reformed was a Presbyterian, and the Reformed that 
the Presbyterian was Reformed. Intermarriages be- 
tween the two classes were not very frequent ; but when 
they did take place, the offspring certainly did not deterior- 
ate, if we may take Gen. Grant as a sample, who sprang 
from Scotch and German ancestry in Pennsylvania. No 
one acquainted with the history of this State or the pro- 
gress of its religious life, will deny that the influence of 
the Scotch Irish upon the Germans where they came to- 
gether, was highly benficial, and vice-versa. At Mer- 
cersburg in 1835, when our institutions were brought 
to that place, the community had in a measure become 
Anglo-German, sufficiently united to give Anglo-Ger- 
man institutions a warm welcome and a generous sup- 
port. Still the question has been frequently asked how 
a German institution came to be established in such an 
English community. How that was brought to pass, we 
will explain in another place. It was something provi- 
dential, no doubt. 



CHAPTER IV 



The Theological Seminary 

Its Antecedents*, — As every point in time is the cen- 
tre of a boundless past, as well as the centre of a bound- 
less future, so it was with that period of College history 
of w^hich we are here speaking. It was the result of a 
series of efforts to establish Theological and Literary 
Institutions, more particularly for German people of the 
Reformed faith. It will be necessary for us, therefore, 
to go back somewhat and review these efforts, so that we 
may the better orient ourselves on the plateau of College 
life, which we are at length reaching. 

In most cases in this country Colleges preceded The- 
ological Seminaries. In fact the Colleges were at first 
all more or less theological, and young men preparing 
for the ministry had to depend mainly on their college 
training. This was the primary thought of those who 
founded Harvard, Yale and Princeton Colleges ; and 
once built on this idea as a foundation, these institutions 
became great, wealthy and prosperous. But in the course 
of time, as the studies in the Colleges increased, and 
better and more specific qualifications in the ministry 
were called for. Theological Seminaries became a neces- 
sity, and they were soon established as independent 
schools of learning in all religious denominations. 



THE THEOLOGICAL, SEMINARY 67 

In the Reformed Church, however, the historical 
order was just the reverse : first the Seminary, and then 
the College, which grew out of the former and was in- 
volved in it as a germ from the first. 

The Synod of Bedford, — The necessity of a Theologi- 
cal School among American Germans grew to be more 
and more urgent, and accordingly it was the first to be 
felt. The need of ministers, who could preach in both 
languages, became more apparent every day ; and the 
desire for such an institution came to be deeply cher- 
ished by those who mourned over the desolations of 
Zion. At length, after many diflSculties had been sur- 
mounted, the way was opened for its realization by the 
Synod of Bedford in 1824. The reverend fathers assem- 
bled there from all parts of the State : it was a general 
convention ; it was understood that important business 
should claim its attention. The Eev. Dr. William Hen- 
del, of Womelsdorf, Berks Co., Pa., was in the chair. 
According to an old custom, the ministers all sat in a 
row on the front seats around the chancel, arranged ac- 
cording to age, from the oldest down to the youngest, 
and the elders sat behind in like regular order. The 
former did all the speaking, according to seniority of age, 
whilst the elders listened, but seldom, if ever, said any- 
thing. At one of these meetings, a young elder from 
Virginia, perhaps not understanding the rules, once 
made a speech ; but it was not well received, especially 



68 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

SO, because, not being able to speak in German, he had 
made use of the Engb'sh language. Such was the ap- 
pearance of the Synod of Bedford. After the question 
whether the Synod should proceed to establish a Semi- 
nary had been fully discussed, the vote was taken and 
resulted in a tie. The venerable President then arose, 
and under a deep sense of his responsibility, gave the 
casting vote for the Seminary. His language was : — 
Ich stimme fuer das Seminarium. This strong voice 
from the most German part of the State once and for 
all time answered the much vexed question of the day. 

A Note. — Dr. Hendel was a well educated man, a 
graduate of Columbia College, New York, and had stud- 
ied theology at New Brunswick, New Jersey, under Dr. 
Livingstone. He was the warm friend of missions and 
the cause of the Seminary, which excited the opposition 
of worldly people in his own neighborhood, and in the 
end amounted to persecution. He gave liberally of his 
means to support the institutions of the Church, and on 
one occasion, when he had no money, he burned lime — 
in Tulpehocken — and gave the proceeds of one whole 
kiln to assist in keeping up the Seminary in its strug- 
gles. He was a tender-hearted, pious, very conscien- 
tious and upright man. 

A Proposition from Carlisle, — The Synod was no 
doubt brought to this conclusion, in some degree at 
least, by certain liberal offers, which it received at this 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 69 

meeting from the Trustees of Dickinson College in re- 
gard to the location of the Seminary at Carlisle. They 
proposed to convey to the Seminary a lot of ground, one 
hundred feet square, for the erection of suitable build- 
ings on the college campus. The theological students 
were to have free access to the college libraries as well as 
to the recitations and lectures of the professors, whilst 
the Professor of Theology was to serve as Professor 
of History and the German Language. The Synod 
accepted of this proposition, and then proceeded with 
the selection of a professor. On motion of the Rev. 
Jacob Geiger, seconded by the Rev. Isaac Gerhart, a 
committee, consisting of the officers of the Synod, was 
authorized to send a call to the Rev. Samuel Helfen- 
stein, to accept of the office of Professor ; and in case he 
should decline, to place the call into the hands of the Rev. 
Lewis Mayer. Dr. Helfenstein did not see his way clear 
to accept of the appointment, and Dr. Mayer, the younger 
of the two, in view of all the circumstances of the case, 
felt it to be his duty to obey the voice of the Synod. 

At Carlisle.^ — In the following spring Dr. Mayer 
opened the Seminary at Carlisle with five students, but 
with much zeal and his heart fully in the work. Thus 
an auspicious beginning of a great and good work was 
made, which, however, from the beginning was encom- 
passed with almost insuperable difficulties. 

The doors of the new School of the Prophets was 



70 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

opened, but the young prophets were few. There were 
doubtless worthy young men in the Church, who pos- 
sessed talents and were willing to devote themselves to 
the ministry, but were without the means necessary to 
enable them to pursue their studies. The means, there- 
fore, had to be provided for in such cases. Appeals 
went forth to assist such persons, which although often 
unheeded, were not altogether in vain. Generally about 
half of the students had to be sustained in this way : if 
it had not been for these beneficiaries, both College and 
Seminary would have made a very poor show in the 
beginning. 

The Rev. James R, Reily* — In the next place there 
was no endowment and no library, and the professor had 
to do the best that he could for his mental and physical 
food. But the Synod was not insensible to these rea- 
sonable wants of its servant, and had instructed its Col- 
lege of Directors to provide for them according to the 
best of their ability and judgement. Without much 
delay they commissioned the Rev. James R. Reily — no 
doubt at his own suggestion — to go to Europe and so- 
licit gifts of books and money for the institution, in the 
Reformed Churches of Germany, Holland and Switzer- 
land. He left Philadelphia in May, 1825, and prosecu- 
ted the objects of his agency with great success, inter- 
rupted sometimes by the state of his health, until the 
following October, when he returned to Philadelphia. 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 71 

Mr. Reily was well adapted for a work of this kind ; 
he was enthusiastic, a iSuent orator in both languages, 
understood the German character, and possessed all the 
patience and perseverance of the German, with all the 
fire- and practical character of the Scotchman, from both 
of whom he was a descendant. 

In Holland. — In Holland he was received with open 
arms as soon as the character of his mission came to be 
understood. Soon after his arrival in the Lowlands, 
the Reformed Synod of Holland was to hold its sessions 
at the Hague, which he attended. A committee was 
appointed to receive a statement of his mission, which 
subsequently reported in its favor and recommended that 
1000 guldens ($400) should be presented as a gift of 
love to the young institution in North America, which 
was done. Similar favor and assistance were extended 
to him in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leyden, Utrecht, 
Haarlem, Scheidam, Bremen, Hamburg, and other cit- 
ies. In many places he preached to large audiences and 
was listened to with the greatest interest. His Majesty, 
the King of Holland, remitted the duties on the books 
he might receive, which amounted to several hundred 
dollars. 

In Germany. — A like warm reception awaited him 
in Germany: in Berlin, Elberfeld, Cologne, Frankfort, 
Heidelberg, Leipsic, Stuttgardt, Tuebingen, and other 
centres of learning. The poor as well as the rich offered 



72 COLL.EGE RECOLLECTIONS 

their gifts of money ; professors and booksellers presen- 
ted their books freely. It is interesting to us now to 
read the names of distinguished scholars who made con- 
tributions, such as Nitzch, Luecke, Gesenius, Daub, 
Flatt, Creutzer, Leander Van Ess, and others. His 
Majesty, the King of Prussia, contributed 200 rix-dol- 
lars himself and issued an order encouraging the people 
throughout his realms to give of their means to this call 
made upon them from America. 

In Switzerland, — Throughout Switzerland Mr. Reily 
was everywhere welcome. In Basel his visit excited 
the deepest interest, and resulted in the most generous 
contributions. Herr Dr. 'DeWette, the distinguished 
theologian, professor in the University, took the mat- 
ter in hand, wrote an account of the Seminary, which 
was printed by Herr Spittler — a Reformed elder, well 
known for his missionary zeal — and widely circulated at 
his own expense. The result was that the contributions 
in this city exceeded those made in any other place, the 
next being in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Zurich, Bern, 
Berlin and Elberfeld. The first gift reported came from 
a child, which amounted to just forty-eight kreutzers, 
or about twenty cents, followed by a long list of names, 
on record in the minutes of Synod of 1826, including 
citizens, professors, ministers, widows and servant girls. 
The students of the University contributed $44 as their 
share. The whole amount credited to the city. of Basel 
was $1392. 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 73 

The Results* — The sum total received during Mr. 
Reily's trip was |6,669. The expenditures for books, 
freight and incidentals, not including the traveling ex- 
penses of the agent, were $1241, leaving $5,428 for the 
use of the Seminary. This with about 5,000 volumes, 
mostly old, but many of them valuable, was the result 
of Mr. Reily's agency. A considerable amount of the 
contributions was in jewelry — the gifts of Christian 
women, which could be easily reduced to currency. Had 
his labors not been interrupted by ill health at times, or 
had he remained longer in the field, the results would 
have been, most probably, more than doubled. As it was, 
they were very flattering. Probably never before, or 
since, did the Fatherland show^ a more lively interest in 
the spiritual welfare of her diaspora in this western world. 
It is one of the brightest pages in her history, and an 
honor to her name. The moral effect of such an out- 
pouring of Christian affection and love from all classes 
for those beyond the seas was far greater than any ma- 
terial aid or comfort that could be rendered. The result 
on the brethren here in America, who were toiling and 
rowing, often in the dark night, was to induce them to 
take new courage and press forward. The positive fruit 
— such an enthusiastic response from all quarters as 
might have been expected — did not appear at once, but 
it did appear, in some degree at least, after many days. 

A Note. — The Rev. Benj. Kurtz was in Europe at the 
6 



74 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

same time with Mr. Reily, engaged in a similar agency 
for the institutions at Gettysburg, and was also very suc- 
cessful in his work. They met in Germany. They had 
been pastors together at Hagerstown, Md. In after years 
Dr. Kurtz once said that no person had done more for 
him, in stimulating him in his pastoral activity, than his 
old colleague, Mr. Reily, — that he actually used to put 
pins in his chair at night to prevent himself from falling 
asleep while he pursued his studies, in order to keep up 
with him. He was the younger of the two. They had 
had their differences, but they were always good friends. 

A New Scheme, — The assistance thus providentially 
rendered did not of course free the Seminary from all of 
its cares and embarrassments. It would not have been 
for its true interests, probably, if it had. One hill, or 
rather mountain, had been scaled, but many others, one 
above the other, arose in the distance. So it is gener- 
ally in this human life of ours. The funds on hand were 
not suflScient to meet the current expenses of the institu- 
tion ; the professor was gloomy, and so were the friends 
of the Seminary. 

In the January number of the Magazine for 1828 
a long article appears from his pen, in which a sad state 
of things is described. The permanent endowment was 
only $8,000, all told, and it was growing less from year 
to year by the demands on it to keep the institution 
afloat. Thirteen students were receiving instruction, 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 75 

of whom six were beneficiaries, and these latter did not 
receive the appropriations promised them. The Synod 
was importuned to relieve the Seminary of its ^^ distress- 
ing embarrassments/^ 

But it was not long before daylight again began to 
break in upon this darkness. In a few months a prac- 
tical elder from Virginia went over to Carlisle to see how 
matters stood, and on his return home devised a Plan or 
Scheme, as he called it, by which the Seminary should 
be relieved. He proposed to raise $10,000 to complete 
the endowment, in subscriptions of $100 each. Two el- 
ders in Virginia and two from Chambersburg headed 
the list, which grew from month to month, and in less 
than a year more than the whole amount was raised. 
There were 101 names af one hundred dollar sub- 
scriptions on the list, and in addition more than seven 
hundred dollars in smaller subscriptions and donations. 
The Rev. Jacob Beecher of Shepherdstown, Virginia, 
took the matter in hand and carried it through ; his own 
charge, not strong numerically by any means, having 
contributed the one-tenth of the whole amount. 

The Rev. Jacob Beecher, — Mr. Beecher was a man 
of kindred spirit with Mr. Rice of Chambersburg. His 
health was feeble, and his labors as agent for the Semi- 
nary, requiring him to go about during the winter of 
1828-29, had probably much to do in breaking down 
entirely his somewhat feeble physical constitution. His 



76 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

greatest regret in his early departure seemed to be that 
he could not live to see the Seminary more fully en- 
dowed. What he did, he did well, and in January, 
1829, the Seminary was in a much more hopeful state 
than it was in January, 1828. Through his exertions 
a new era dawned on the Church. But unfortunately 
an evil spirit of discord broke out at this time amidst 
the general rejoicings ; suspicions were excited in regard 
to the Plan which had proved to be so successful, as if 
some evil were lurking somewhere underneath it; it 
was imagined that it was a scheme to promote some ulte- 
rior object ; and about only one half of the whole amount 
subscribed was ever realized. Still something w^as accom- 
plished, and another hill of difficulty was surmounted. 

A Lost Opportunity . — The connection of the Semina- 
ry with the College at Carlisle did not prove as success- 
ful as was at first anticipated. Only a few of the stu- 
dents of the former were able to derive any benefit from 
the recitations or lectures in the latter ; and very few of 
the students in the College cared about German literature, 
or the recitations in German of the theological professor. 
No new building was put up by the Church on the 
campus, and so no consolidation took place, very much 
to the regret of the College faculty, which at this time 
embodied a brilliant display of talent, with Dr. Mason 
at its head. In human estimation it seems to us now 
very unfortunate that a more complete union between 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 7f 

the two institutions could not be brought about ; or at 
least that the experiment was not allowed a longer trial. 
Had the latter course been pursued, then in a few years 
the College itself with its buildings, its campus, its libra- 
ry, and apparatus, would in all probability have passed 
over into the possession of the Reformed Church. Owing 
to the schism in the Presbyterian Church in 1832, its 
operations could no longer be carried forward with the 
requisite degree of unanimity, and it was thought best 
to hand over the entire interest to some other religious 
body that would sustain it as a respectable College. The 
Methodist Episcopal Church accepted of the gift : had 
the Reformed remained on the ground, they most likely 
would have had the first offer. 

-.4 New Base Jbine at York, — But before the crisis in 
the College came on, difficulties — outside of the College 
— sprang up in regard to the arrangements made by the 
Reformed congregation of the place for the accomodation 
of the Seminary, which became very harassing. The 
professor and the students were uncomfortable, and 
it began to be felt that the institution should be taken 
to another locality. This accordingly was done, and the 
Synod in 1829 ordered it to be removed to York, Pa* 
To use a military phrase, in the fall of 1829 it retreated 
from Carlisle to York and formed a new base line, pur- 
sued, however, all the way from Carlisle by a vexatious 
lawsuit, of which something wilL be said in another 



78 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

place. Thus, when it was in a fair way of becoming 
the heiress of Dickinson College, and stood apparently on 
the borders of the promised land, by what seems to be 
an unaccountable fatality, it was driven back again into 
the wilderness, to perform many painful marches. In 
the circumstances of the case it was, perhaps, best that it 
should be thus nurtured for a while longer in poverty, 
and disciplined in the hard school of adversity. 

Up to this time Dr. Mayer had performed all the 
teaching in the Seminary himself, which moreover, was 
not confined to the various branches of theology, but 
included often branches of a more elementary charac- 
ter. He taught everything, from Hebrew down to ele- 
mentary Latin and Greek. One of his students infor- 
med us that he studied Virgil whilst pursuing his theo- 
logical studies; and another told us that the professor 
taught a class in Geography and sought to impress upon 
their attention the great importance of this study, as a 
means of enlarging their minds. 

Professor Young, — At the end of four years of 
hard work of this kind, with constant cares and perplex- 
ities, the professor complained to the Synod and asked 
for an assistant to relieve him of part of his burden. 
The request was reasonable, and the time had arrived 
when it could be granted. The Rev. Daniel Young 
was appointed by the Synod in 1829 to fill this posi- 
tion. He was born in the State of New York, and was 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINABY 79 

of Reformed aocestry. He grew up in the Presbyterian 
Church, graduated at Union College, and studied the- 
ology at Princeton. But when the way was opened by 
Providence, he returned to the Church of his fathers, 
and entered upon its service with alacrity and zeal as 
his proper sphere of labor. He was well versed in the 
Hebrew and Cognate Languages, an acceptable contrib- 
utor to the Princeton Review, and for some time previ- 
ous to his election as professor, he was editor of the 
Reformed Magazine at Carlisle. He occupied the chair 
of Biblical Literature first, and then of Exegesis and 
Church History. He also devoted part of his time to 
the Classical Department, which under his care as a 
college graduate may be said to have taken its start, to 
be developed afterwards into a regular college. Prof. 
Young was a lovely Christian, pure in his life, and his 
early death in 1831 was a great loss to the Church and 
its struggling institutions of learning. 

Progress at Yorh^ — During this period of time there 
was as yet no separation between the theological and 
classical departments. They formed together the theo- 
logical coarse of that day. From an examination that 
was held in the year 1830, it seems that the theological 
students, eleven in number, were divided into higher 
and lower classes. The latter were examined in the 
Greek Reader, Virgil, Moral Philosophy, Geography, 
&c. — The theological students accordingly did not, most 



80 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

of them, it seems, get further than Virgil in Latin, the 
New Testament in Greek, and Geography was still a 
branch pursued in connection with Moral Philosophy 
and Theology. They never wandered over the classic 
pages of Plato, Sophocles or Tacitus ; they were not ad- 
mitted to the mysteries of Trigonometry and Calculus ; 
and heard little or nothing of the depths of Philosophy 
or the heights of Astronomy, whilst the realms of Flora 
and Fauna were practically unknown regions. But it is 
simply a matter of justice to remark that the theological 
students of that day, notwithstanding their slender ad- 
vantages, by industry and subsequent self-culture, be- 
came eminently useful in their work, and filled positions 
of responsibility with credit to themselves. They were 
among the most active and energetic in building up 
their Alma Mater, so that it might aflbrd others greater 
advantages than they themselves had enjoyed. They 
had a good teacher, one who understood the nature of 
the sacred office, and was qualified to infuse into their 
minds proper conceptions of its duties and responsibili- 
ties. He was an earnest, serious man, given to reflec- 
tion and concerned for the interests of the Kingdom of 
God as well as for those of his own Church. 

A ImIL — After the death of Professor Young, there 
seemed to be a lull in the Church, springing evidently 
from a desire to find some one who would fill his place 
fully. He was no ordinary man, and no ordinary one 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 81 

would be taken into consideration. Better ideas of what 
an educated man was had come to prevail after his loss. 
A year had passed around, one no doubt of earnest in- 
quiry for a suitable successor, in looking around to find 
another like him. The editor of the Messenger, who- 
ever he was, said '^ he must be well qualified for the of- 
fice, and be decidedly pious. No others should apply. 
One who can teach the German language will be pre- 
ferred.^^ 

Dr, Ranch, — During this period of suspense^ Dr. 
Frederick Augustus Ranch, a recent exile from Ger- 
many, was at Easton, Pa., in 1831, studying the Eng- 
lish language, giving instructions in Music, teaching the 
German language in Lafayette College, answering diffi- 
cult questions proposed to him by the literati of the 
town, and proposing others equally as difficult that were 
not answered. He soon arrested the attention of our 
German ministers in the eastern part of the State, and 
it was not long before they discovered in him the requi- 
site gifts for the position at York. They brought his 
name before the authorities of the Seminary, and in 
June, 1832, we find him already in the service of the 
Classical School. 

His Election, — At the Synod of Frederick, in Sep- 
tember following, the Rev. Thomas Pomp of Easton, 
Pa., with whom he had found a pleasant temporary home, 
by letter recommended him to the Synod as a suitable 



82 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

person to fill the vacant chair in the Seminary. Similar 
letters from the Rev. Theodore L. Hoflfeditz, the Rev. 
Jacob C. Becker, and the Rev. Isaac Gerhart, were for- 
warded to the Synod. Other recommendations of his 
abilities from high sources were presented at the same 
time ; whereupon the Synod elected him to fill the chair 
of Biblical Literature in the Seminary and appointed 
him Principal of the Classical Department, which after- 
wards came to be known as the High School of the Re- 
formed Church. 

His Inaugural, — During the month following, at 
the opening of the Seminary year, the ceremony of his 
inauguration took place, conducted by the Rev. Samuel 
Gutelius and the Rev. Albert Helfenstein, Sr. The 
services were entirely in the German language. The 
Inaugural Address, in which the professor discussed the 
object of theological study, was a model of its kind and 
well calculuted to inspire confidence in the mind of the 
Church. It concludes with the following address to the 
students, ending with a prayer : 

^' Grant me your confidence, and then if you will 
pray to God and Jesus Christ for the influence of the 
Holy Ghost to enlighten your minds, and with cheerful- 
ness and self-denial devote vour lives to the truth of 
religion, to the cause of Christ, and the salvation of 
your fellow-men, you will crown the labors of your 
teacher with success ; you will become ornaments to your 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 83 

country ; the joy and delight of your parents ; and a 
blessing to the people, which our great Master, before 
whom only we should bow in adoration, may commit to 
your charge/^ 

His Prayer. — " May the peace of the Most High be 
in our midst ; may the love of Christ lead us ; and the 
Holy Spirit enlighten us. To this end, O God, grant 
Thy blessing : we are weak and nothing, but Thou art 
almighty; we do what Thou dost in us; and without 
Thee we can do nothing. Show Thy servants therefore 
the way in which they should go ; and when dejection 
steals upon them, then fill them with courage; and 
when darkness surrounds them, then let Thy light 
shine. Bless our Institutions, and let Thy Spirit hover 
over them ; keep all the teachers of Thy Word united, 
and give to Christians of every denomination a love for 
our work, that our strength may not stand by itself and 
fail, but manifest itself in true power. Awaken and 
preserve in us love for our brethren beyond the ocean ; 
and when our labors are crowned with success, then in 
thanksgiving may we be able to say : To Christ belongs 
the honor, to Christ belongs the glory. Amen.^^ 

From this address, as well as from other indications, 
it was not difficult to see that the new professor possessed 
the three requisites laid down by the editor of the Mes- 
senger and the Board of Visitors : Superior qualifica- 
tions, ability to teach the German language, and proof 
of "decided piety. ^^ 



84 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Sunshine. — The election of a second professor took 
place when a new interest seemed to be awakened in the 
Church in behalf of her theological school, and the num- 
ber of students in the Seminary began to increase, in 
both departments. The venerable Dr. Cathcart, pastor 
of the Presbyterian church at York, the friend of Dr. 
Mayer and the Seminary, learning that there was need 
of funds, had some time before offered to contribute 
fifty dollars himself, if fifty others would contribute an 
equal amount ; and before the end of the year fifty-two 
in all were reported. The Trustees had placed five 
agents in the field to operate in different parts of the 
Church. The Rev. J. R. Reily reported that he had 
received $800 from five congregations in the neigh- 
borhood of Easton. Encouraging returns were also 
reported from the other agents : the pastors, B. S. 
Schneck, J. J. Ungerer, Samuel Gutelius, and the theo- 
logical student, B. C. Wolff*. 

A Note. — The theological student, who was helping 
the good work along, was the elder from Virginia that 
started the $10,000 Scheme already referred to, and 
made perhaps the first English speech at Synod. He 
walked in the footsteps of Beecher, Rice and Reily ; 
conscious of his practical talents, he proposed to devote 
all his time in labor as agent to endow the institutions 
of the Church ; but Mr. Reily thought otherwise and 
saw to it that he was placed in the pastoral oflSce at 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 85 

Easton. He, however, whilst pastor, acted as agent, 
whenever it seemed necessary, and secured many of the 
largest contributions ever made to the establishment of 
our schools of learning — mostly through his personality. 
Mr. Buchanan said that he was the politest agent with 
whom he had ever met. 

Clouds, — Thus there was another period of sunshine 
— for a few years, — from which came growth and prog- 
ress ; but it was not long before clouds began to gather 
along the horizon. For what were supposed to be suf- 
ficient reasons, it was again thought that another remo- 
val of the Seminary, — or the "ark,'^ as the Messenger 
called it — ought to take place. What these reasons all 
weie it is somewhat difficult for us now to comprehend, 
or fully to appreciate. We merely give the following 
account of the situation of affairs by Dr. Wolff in his 
History of the Seminary, read at the Tercentenary Cele- 
bration at Philadelphia in 186-3 : 

"But there were troubles ahead for the Seminary, 
and its course was not permitted to run smooth. The 
complications with the congregation at Carlisle in a law- 
suit which was brought to trial before the civil court at 
York ; and the unfavorable effect of this, in connection 
with other embarassments, rendered it expedient, as 
some thought, to seek for it another location. The 
question was brought before the Synod of Pittsburg in 
1834 ; and, after considerable discussion it was deter- 



86 COLLEGE RECX)LLECTIONS 

mined that a circular should be issued, inviting propos- 
als from the citizens of such places as might be disposed 
to compete for the advantage of having literary and 
theological institutions in their midst. The circular 
created considerable interest throughout the Church ; 
and at the next meeting of the Synod in Chambersburg, 
propositions were submitted from the good people of 
that town, of Lancaster, and Mercersburg/^ The offer 
from the citizens of the latter place, pledging that they 
would give §10,000 in cash contributions, involving no 
conditions that might lead to difficulty or misunder- 
standing, was regarded as the best ; and accordingly 
Mercersburg was fixed upon for the permanent location 
of the Theological and Literary Institutions of the Re- 
formed Church. 

At the time, this was quite a feat for a country vil- 
lage of twelve hundred inhabitants. But there was 
some wealth there, and intelligence also — Scotch Irish — 
and the citizens could see that they would derive great 
advantages from having these institutions in their place 
— that they would be more than compensated financially 
for what they might thus invest, as well as secure for 
themselves still higher benefits. Many of the larger 
towns of the State then could not see that far. — The 
Rev. Jacob Mayer, a Reformed minister, was stationed 
at Mercersburg ; and it is not too much to say that he 
had much to do in exciting this spirit of enterprise 



THE THEOLOGICAL. SEMINARY 87 

among his enterprising fellow townsmen, just as he had 
much to do afterwards in crowning this movement with 
success. 

"The Classical School/' says Dr. Wolff, "was at 
once removed to the place of its location. But when 
the Seminary was to follow, the objection of the Board 
of Trustees was, that, by consenting to a removal, the 
charter would be forfeited, the Board of Trustees dis- 
solved, and the legal control of the funds be lost. For 
this reason, and because of affliction in his family, the 
Professor of Theology was unwilling to leave York, 
The Synod of Baltimore, in 1831, having obtained the 
opinion of the most eminent legal counsel to the effect 
that there was no ground for the fears expressed, it was 
decided that the Seminary should be taken to Mercers- 
burg, as was at first proposed.^' It remained, however, 
at York for another year, when Dr. Mayer resigned, and 
his place remained vacant until the Fall of 1838, when 
he was re-elected by the Synod, and affectionately urged 
to resume his duties. After this period of rest he re- 
moved to Mercersburg, where he remained for one year, 
when, on account of increasing physical disability, and 
doctrinal difficulties, which sprung up in the Seminary, 
he again resigned. 

The period preceding the removal of the Seminary 
and its separation from the College, until 1838, was one 
of doubt and uncertainty, when the vessel, on which so 



88 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIOXS 

much that was precious and valuable, was embarked, 
was tempest-tost, and at times apparently submerged be- 
neath the waves During the year 1835, before the re- 
moval of the institution was directed by Synod, even 
Dr. Rauch himself had become very much discouraged. 
His fond hopes had not been realized, and he did not 
know whether the High School would ever amount to 
anything or not. He had received a flattering call to a 
professorship in a western college ; but he still had some 
faith, and he remained true to his word that he would 
stand or fall with the institution with which he had be- 
come identified. 

A Note, — At York Dr. Rauch labored under great 
difficulty in saying all that he wished to say in the Eng- 
lish language. His thoughts were like so many caged 
birds, which he wished to let out, but the crowd was too 
great to get out in good order. He was conscious of 
this himself, and so when he came to dismiss a stu- 
dent to Yale College, he hesitated and was not willing 
to write the dismission in English, lest he might expose 
himself before the learned men at New Haven ; and he, 
therefore, wrote one in Latin, which the bearer thought 
helped to get him into a higher class than he expected. 

During the year 1836 there were only eight students 
in attendance at York, no meeting of the Board of 
Visitors, and no examinations at the end of the year ; 
during the year 1837, Dr. Mayer, owing to failing 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 89 

health and partly, no doubt, to the unsettled state of af- 
fairs generally, handed in his resignation ; thus during 
the year 1838 his chair was vacant, and the students 
were directed to pursue their studies at Mercersburg 
under Dr. Ranch. Three availed themselves of this 
opportunity, but only one held out during the year, 
Mr. J. H. Augustus Bomberger, who was the first and 
only graduate of Marshall College, in 1837. Dr. Ranch, 
however, had the pleasure to inform the Synod that the 
prospects for the future were encouraging, and that nine 
students had applied for entrance at the opening of the 
next term, six of whom were graduates of the College. 

Dr. Mayer. — As already said. Dr. Mayer withdrew 
from the service of the Church in the Fall of 1839, 
something which he had in contemplation as a very 
probable contingency, as he had accepted of this second 
appointment only with the hope that the Synod might at 
no distant future dispense with his services. His work 
as a faithful professor was finished, and it was his de- 
sire to retire to private life, where he might devote what 
strength he still retained to literary pursuits. 

Dr. Mayer was no ordinary man, and his useful ser- 
vices to the Church it is perhaps difficult for us now 
fully to estimate. He was for the most part a self-made 
man. In his youth he had enjoyed rather limited ad- 
vantages in the way of educational training from others, 
and never found his way to the doors of a college ; but 
7 



90 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

for this he more than made up by his energy and perse- 
verance in educating himself. In his early manhood 
at Frederick, Md., he worked by day as a mechanic, 
and during the evenings, often till late at night, with a 
mere taper light, in some secluded corner or fire-place, 
he pored over his lessons in the classics. Here he 
arrested the attention of the Rev. Daniel Wagner, pas- 
tor on the Reformed side, of blessed memory, from 
whom he learned the higher lessons of grace, and also 
received guidance and direction in the prosecution of 
his theological studies. — He soon became an efficient 
pastor and at once took a deep interest in the general 
affairs of the Church, apparently overwhelmed with a 
sense of the desolations of Zion and a desire to see her 
keep pace with other religious bodies, by arising and 
letting her light shine. By diligence and a judicious 
improvement of his time, he mastered the learned lan- 
guages, the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and became a 
proficient in the German also. By the time, conse- 
quently, when a professor was needed in the Seminary, 
he had become well known for his studious habits, his 
acquisitions, and earnest spirit ; and it was quite natural 
that the choice fell upon him, when his senior and pri- 
marius. Dr. Helfenstein, could not respond to the voice 
of the Synod. 

In the course of time he became a learned man, 
quite equal to most of the theological professors of his 



THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 91 

day. He acquired a clear, pure English style of writ- 
ing, and his contributions to the literature of the Church, 
as editor and author, were highly respectable. His 
History of the Reformed Church, never finished, com- 
prising the history of the Reformation in Switzerland, 
is well executed and cannot be read without interest by 
scholars, as well as laymen generally. He sought to be 
strictly a biblical theologian, and his expositions of the 
Scriptures were regarded by those who heard them as 
thorough and edifying. Having acquired much of his 
learning without theological, philosophical, or classical 
training in schools of learning, and adhering to the 
results of his own patient, unwearied investigations, he 
varied in some respects from the orthodoxy of the day, 
without, however, losing his faith in Christ or His 
Kingdom on earth. As a guide to young men prepar- 
ing for the ministry, he was well qualified by his own 
experience as a practical pastor himself: the sequel 
showed that his students copied after a good teacher, by 
their activity and success in the pastoral office. After 
toiling for years, in season and out of season, at his post, 
under a sense that he no longer possessed the strength 
to go with the children of Israel into the promised land, 
he handed over his office to others who possessed differ- 
ent gifts from his own, to go forward and possess the land. 
B}' the withdrawal of Dr. Mayer from the Seminary 
during the fall and winter of 1 839-40, Dr. Ranch re- 



92 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

mained as sole professor, able to devote only the smaller 
portion of his time to its interests. This was a period, 
no doubt, of anxious thought to know what was the next 
step that was to be taken, — everywhere in the Church. 

At the opening of the Seminary in the Fall of 1839, 
the nine students referred to by Dr. Ranch, were all in 
attendance. They were the following: George W. 
Williard, Emanuel Y. Gerhart, George H. Martin, G. 
William Welker, Solomon S. Middlekauf, George 
Strickland, Jr., John R. Kooken, Jr., Charles H. Lein- 
bach and Benjamin Leinbach. The last five have fallen 
asleep, and the remaining four are still with us and well 
known. — When we formed their acquaintance in the 
Autumn of 1839, they seemed to be happy and conten- 
ted, earnestly engaged in their studies, pleasant to us 
college students, and as the older brothers in the family 
showing a good example to the younger portion. 

A Note. — Dr. Theodore L. Hoffeditz and the Rev. 
Isaac Gerhart had studied together under Dr. S. Hel- 
fenstein and were always warm personal friends — also 
warm friends of Dr. Ranch and the Seminary. — At the 
Synod of Chambersburg, in 1835, Mr. Gerhart listened 
attentively to what was said about the difficulty in rais- 
ing the salary for Dr. Ranch. Rising in his place, he 
said there ought to be no difficulty. Everybody should 
do something. He had, he said, some flour and some 
potatoes at home, and that he was willing to give Dr. 
Ranch the flour, and he would cut the potatoes. 



CHAPTER V 



Marshall College 

The High School at Mercersburg, — AccordiDg to the 
action of Synod, the High School at York was removed 
to Mercersburg in the Fall of 1835. One of its pro- 
fessors went with the School, but the Seminary as a 
whole remained behind, as already said, because it seemed 
to the Trustees that there were difficulties in the way. 
The separation of the two, however, was an unnatural 
one ; and so in due course of time, they came together 
again. It was similar to that, which, it is said, some- 
times took place between Adam and Eve. According 
to, oriental fable, the latter wandered away occasionally 
into distant lands and lost herself, when this world was 
still a Paradise ; but Adam always found out where she 
was, and with immense strides over lands and seas 
reached the place of her abode. Generally he found 
her in the best and most pleasant part of the garden, 
and he was always glad to remain with her on the spot 
she had selected. So it seems it was with the separa- 
tions that have taken place between the College and the 
Seminary. They have thus far been only temporary. 
There are certain interests in the Church as well as the 
world that must go together, for neither can flourish 
and prosper without the other. 



94 COLLEGE KECOLLECrriONS 

The Rev. Dr. Amos H. Kremer, an eye-witness, has 
given us a graphic account of the removal of the stu- 
dents or personnel of the High School, which we find it 
difficult here to reproduce fully. He says that four- 
teen of them were brought into the town of Mercers- 
burg in two stages, seven in each. Four others were 
stragglers, who, with the faculty consisting of two pro- 
fessors, reached their place of destination in some other 
way. Seven of them were Diagnothians and eleven 
Goetheans. This was about all that was left of the 
High School to be removed. Their arrival made quite 
a sensation in the village ; every attention was paid to 
the strangers, and care exercised to provide them with 
suitable boarding places. It was not long before they 
felt at home and their number began at once to increase. 
The two teachers that came on with the students were 
Dr. Ranch and his faithful Achates, Professor Budd. 
They were both scholarly looking men, young as yet, 
but with the lines of thought and study already on their 
faces, both looking out upon the world through gold 
spectacles. They no doubt made a favorable impres- 
sion on the community ; though only two professors all 
told, they were a host in themselves. They commenced 
holding their recitations for the time being in the old stone 
school-house, back of the Presbyterian Church, where 
Miss Brownson held her colored Sunday-school some 
years afterwards. The building was dilapidated in ap- 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 95 

pearance, but it answered their purpose temporarily, or 
until better arrangements could be made for their ac- 
commodation. From the course of studies laid down at 
York, it appeared that the students were to be divided 
into four classes, and to go over all the branches of 
study usually pursued at that time in regular Colleges. 
Thus these two professors undertook the work usually 
performed by a complete College faculty. This was 
also a temporary arrangement, it being understood that 
other teachers were to come to their relief at no distant 
day. 

A Literary Contest — The students were all enthusi- 
astic, not at all daunted by outward appearances. If 
not absorbed altogether in their studies, the Literary 
Societies came in to occupy the balance of their atten- 
tion ; and one of the first things that they did was to get 
up a literary contest, of which the Rev. Frederick A. 
Rupley gives the following interesting account : 

" I may here say that these Literary Societies exer- 
ted a marked influence on the life of the students. As 
the first session advanced a large number of new students 
were admitted, and the zeal of the friends of each socie- 
ty, in securing recruits to their favorite organizations, 
became very ardent. Indeed so great was this the case 
at times, that personal difficulties were the result. 

^^ Then at the end of the Winter Term, it was the 
order of the day for the Societies to hold a public Con- 



96 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

test, in which they were to show their skill respectively 
in declamation, composition, original oration, and debate. 
For months before this literary Contest came oflF, it be- 
came the subject of remark. The whole community 
seemed to be in sympathy with one or the other of the 
two parties. Partisan zeal and partisan spirit, akin to 
that exhibited in a Presidential campaign, seized upon 
the people in and around Mercersburg for miles, in view 
of this contemplated struggle between the Societies. 
One of the factors in the excitement, adding largely 
thereto, was the secrecy maintained by the respective 
sides. So much so was this the case, that the names of 
the contestants, representing the Societies, were not fully 
known until a few days prior to the contest. It is true, 
vague surmises or guesses were made, but no certain 
knowledge could be obtained. Five judges were selec- 
ted, two by each party and an umpire by mutual consent, 
who were to determine the relative merits of the per- 
formances. 

" At length the evening for the long expected event 
came on, and the weather was favorable. The whole 
community seemed to be aroused to witness this exhibi- 
tion of youthful gladiatorship in the literary walks of 
life. The old Presbyterian church was crowded to its 
utmost capacity by an interested and excited audience. 
The like had never been witnessed before in that com- 
munity. The judges had a prominent place assigned 



MAESHALL COLLEGE 97 

them, from which they could see and accurately observe 
every movement of the speakers. The whole perform- 
ance lasted u^til after ten o'clock, and yet the attention 
of the audience did not weary or flag/' 

The interest awakened on this occasion showed that 
the school was located in the right sort of a community, 
one that was sympathetic and responsive, and one that 
could be interested in literary matters. — Only one contest, 
however, was held after this, which was during the fol- 
lowing year. They were too much of a good thing. 
The faculty of the College regarded them as unessential 
to the prosperity of the associations, and as they seemed 
to excite more or less animosity among the students, 
thought it on the whole best to discontinue them, so that 
they might pursue their studies with more quiet and 
less distraction of mind. They acquiesced ; some of 
them because they had enough of glory, and others, 
perhaps, because they had enough of defeat. 

The Comer-Stone Laying, — The next event of inter- 
est that took place in College history at Mercersburg, 
was the laying of the corner-stone of the building for the 
use of the Seminary and the High School, usually called 
the Seminary building. The building committee con- 
sisted of John Smith, George Besore, Daniel Shaffer and 
James O. Carson — two of them Reformed Elders, the 
third a Lutheran and the fourth a Seceder. They were 
men of energy, who went to work at once, broke ground 



98 ' COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

and had made all the necessary arrangements for the 
laying of the corner-stone during the summer of 1836. 
They were regardless of the objections to the removal of 
the Seminary from York, and knew full well that if a 
permanent building were once erected, it would speak for 
itself, and the Seminary would soon come on and make 
its home within its walls. They had Church legislation 
on their side, and knew that the so-called "legal difficul- 
ties'' would not amount to anything. The financial ques- 
tion did not seem to intimidate them either : they had the 
Eev. Jacob Mayer back of them, who was ready to col- 
lect the $10,000 of the citizens of Mercersburg, to pay 
for the building, which was to cost about that much ; 
and if this was not all paid in at once, which it was not, 
Mr. Mayer could collect the balance elsewhere. Accor- 
dingly the committee went to work and had made all 
the necessary arrangements for the laying of the corner- 
stone of the new edifice at the time appointed. It was 
an occasion of great interest — an event in the ups and 
downs in the history of the institutions — of which we 
must here give some account, taken from the papers of 
the day. — 

An advertisement appeared in the Messenger that 
the ceremony was to take place on the 17th of August, 
at 10 o'clock, to which the editor directed attention and 
added the following editorial remarks : " The erection of 
an edifice, designed for the accommodation of our School 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 99 

of the Prophets^ forms an epoch in the history of our 
Church of no ordinary character — especially as it has 
been greatly needed and long looked for, and will give 
permanence to our ^ last hope/ and a resting place where 
we trust the ^ark^ may long abide, exerting an influence 
that shall descend to many unborn, and be a fountain 
from which shall issue streams that shall make glad the 
city of our God/^ 

" It was an occasion long looked for," says the same 
editor. Rev. B. S. Schneck, with his usual feeling and 
sentiment, "and fondly anticipated by the members 
and friends of our Church generally, the approach of 
which created an unusual degree of lively interest among 
all the lovers of literature and religion, not only in the 
immediate vicinity, but also in the remote sections of 
the Church. This was partly evinced by the vast con- 
course in attendance on the occasion, among whom we 
were rejoiced to see many of the warm-hearted friends 
of the Church from every part of Franklin County — 
from Hagerstown, Middletown, Boonsborough, Fred- 
erick City and Baltimore, Md., and even from Virginia 
and other places. The day was delightful, and al- 
though the previous day threatened, by its dark clouds, 
to be succeeded by an unfavorable one, it turned out to 

be merely 

"The cloudy day, 
Which shades the brightness of the coming morn.^' 

For, when we arose at the dawn of day, on the memora- 



100 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

ble 17tb, we beheld the sky all serene and beautiful; 
and, in a short time, the orb of day arose in the blue 
vault of heaven, in all the majestic splendor with which 
he burst upon the world at the dawn of creation. 

"A ride of three hours brought us to the beautiful 
town of Mercersburg. When within sight of the place, 
on the eminence from which every nook and corner is 
seen throughout the town, we were already apprised by a 
din and bustle, such as the streets of Mercersburg prob- 
ably never before presented, that the number of the peo- 
ple was greater than ^the town could contain/ ^^ 

The Committee of Arrangements consisted of the 
Rev. John Rebough, assisted by the following Elders : 
Bruner of Frederick, Rickenbaugh of Hagerstown, 
Cushwa of Clearspring, Kieflfer of St. Thomas, Snively, 
Hartman and Hade of Greencastle, Wolff and Heyser 
of Chambersburg, Barrick of the Glade Church, and 
Jacob Besore of Waynesborough. The procession was 
formed at the Reformed Church, and proceeded under 
the direction of Wm. McKinstry, Esq., as Chief Mar- 
shall, who was supported by Colonels Weaver and Mur- 
phy, Captain William Smith, Dr. Scott and Mr. Henry 
Ruby, to Main Street, up Main to Seminary Street, and 
thence to the beautiful grove back of the proposed 
building, with which many of our readers are familiar. 

The following was the order of exercises observed in 
the grove, at which the Rev. Dr. William Hendel pre- 
sided : 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 101 

1. An Introductory Anthem by the Choir. 

2. An Invocation in the German language, by Rev. B. S. 
Schneck. 

3. The 102nd Psalm, 2nd part, containing the following 

stanzas : 

Let Zion and her sons rejoice, 

Behold the promised hour ; 

Her God hath heard her mourning voice, 

And comes to exalt his power. 

This shall be known when we are dead, 

And left on long record, 
That ages yet unborn may read. 

And trust and praise the Lord. 

4. Prayer in the German language, by Dr. Hendel. 

5. Anthem, by the Choir. 

6. Address in German, by Rev. W. A. Good. 

7. Anthem, by the Choir. 

8. English Prayer, by Rev. G. W. Glessner. 

9. English Address, by Rev. H. L. Rice. 

10. Collection, and Hymn beginning with the words : 

How beauteous are their feet, 

Who stand on Zion^s hill ; 
Who bring salvation on their tongues, 

And words of peace reveal ! 

A brief history of the origin, progress and rise of the 

Seminary was then read by the Rev. John Casper 

Bucher, vrhereupon the corner-stone was laid by the 

Rev. Dr. Ranch, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Hendel. An 

English prayer was offered up by the Rev. Daniel 

Zacharias, after which a hymn was sung, containing the 

following verse : 

We trust Thy power and not our own, 
The superstructure here to raise ; 
May love divine, our efforts crown. 
And Thy blest name have all the praise. 



102 COLLEGE EECOLLECTIONS 

"As the last strain of music passed away in the distant 
air/^ says the editor already quoted, " a solemn and mo- 
mentous pause ensued, and we felt an assurance that 
these supplications were wafted up to the throne of God 
upon the wings of faith and prayer, even as the sound 
was carried away by the soft breezes of heaven/' , 

Dr. RaucK^s Prayer. — " Thereupon Professor Ranch 
addressed the throne of grace in his own native tongue. 
The prayer was the utterance of a heart that feels itself 
in the immediate presence of a holy Being, and yet feels 
assured of an audience with that Being, through the Re- 
deemer's righteousness. He invoked Heaven's richest 
blessing on the Institution, in which the future heralds 
of the Cross in this branch of the Redeemer's Kingdom, 
were to be prepared for their work ; prayed for an in- 
crease of zeal among ministers and people ; for more la- 
borers in the vineyard of the Lord ; earnestly besought 
God to preserve forever the Institution now about to be 
reared from dangerous errors, by which the glory of the 
Redeemer would be tarnished, or but part of the honor 
would be rendered to Him as the most High God ; and 
fervently supplicated a spirit of devoted, holy zeal to 
actuate all who might enter these walls as candidates for 
the ministry. — The prayer was said, and as we looked 
over the vast audience, we saw the pearly tear trembling 
in the eyes of not a few, who, with us, seemed prepared 
to join in a hearty ^men." 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 103 

Addresses. — The day was well spent, and no doubt 
exerted a salutory influence on all who were present, 
and on many more who were not present in body, but 
present in spirit. — The address of the Rev. Mr. Good 
was very suitable to the occasion, and listened to with 
much interest by those who could understand him, — as 
he " led the thoughts of his hearers from the laying of 
the foundation of the Temple of Nature to the God of 
Nature, the grand Architect of the mighty Universe, to 
the spiritual Kingdom of God, in which true Christians 
are said to be living temples, and of which Jesus Christ 
is the Head and chief Corner-Stone.^^ — The address of 
Mr. Rice was what might be expected from him, "clear, 
lucid, well stored with useful matter,^^ and to the point. 
With much ability and earnestness he plead for "an 
educated as well as a pious ministry ,^^ — Dr. Hendel, 
wearied with opposition at home, was just where his 
heart was, in the midst of those with whom he could 
heartily sympathize. Speaking of the wanderings and 
trials of the Seminary, and of the Providence which 
watched over it in its past history, he remarked that it 
had thus far been "on wheels;'^ but that now he hoped 
that it had found a resting place. For all practical pur- 
poses his hope was realized. It is said that his prayer 
on this occasion was one of unusual compass and power, 
which impressed even those who did not understand his 
language. — The immense assemblage here of people 



104 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

showed that the institutions located at Mercersburg were 
surrounded by a class of people, in Maryland and Vir- 
ginia no less than in Pennsylvania, who were in full 
sympathy with their objects and ends. 

Townmen vs. Gownmen. — It is quite easy to im- 
agine that such an outpouring of interest and sympathy, 
as that which was witnessed at the laying of the corner- 
stone of the Seminary, had the effect to encourage the 
professors, and to fill the students with no small amount 
of enthusiasm for their school. Possibly some of them 
may have shown too much of it, and possibly not. At 
any rate they were not long in the place before they 
became involved in difficulty with a certain class of 
persons in the town, who could not sympathize with 
their enthusiasm. In other words, there was a regular 
fight between the townmen and gownmen, in college 
language. The Rev. Mr. Rupley, who has furnished us 
with the following vivid sketch of the rencounter, being 
himself a spectator, will again be our historian : 

"In some way a growing coolness, ripening into a 
bitter antagonism, obtained among a certain portion of 
the young men of the village towards the College stu- 
dents. Doubtless some of the College boys, by their 
intemperate language, or unbecoming, if not insulting, 
behavior towards some of the town boys, gave occasion 
to the cultivation of this spirit. At all events, on divers 
occasions, collisions occurred between the scattered mem- 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 105 

bers of the two factions. Sometimes the one, and then 
the other party would be taken at a disadvantage. The 
fact was, that this spirit, cherished by some represent- 
atives of the college and by some of the town, boded 
evil and no good. At length the feeling became bitter 
and intense, although it remained in some degree con- 
cealed. To a certain extent, each party felt the neces- 
sity — for the purpose of self-defence — to go forward in 
an organized body, or at least to be prepared to rally to 
each other's help, in case of an emergency. But at 
length the time came for a personal trial of strength 
between the belligerent parties. The meeting took place 
somewhere half-way between the Seminary and the 
town. It was about nine o'clock at night. Opprobrious 
epithets were bandied back and forward for a time by 
the respective parties. At length some overt act, some 
"casus belli,'' was committed. Then for a time the 
parties in conflict had a fearful set-to, resulting in rent 
garments, black eyes and bloody noses. — It is specially 
wonderful to relate, at this remote period, that the per- 
son who appeared in the fray as a pacificator, and 
in the emergency, became a leader of the college party, 
was General Kooken, as he was then called, who after- 
wards distinguished himself in the Late War for the 
defence of the Union." 

A Note, — After this first attempt at coming to a 
mutual understanding between the town boys and the 
8 



106 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

college boys, no further difl&culty of the kind occurred. 
A better feeling came to prevail throughout the town, 
and among the students also. Such fights are a relic of 
the barbarism of the past, and never took root nor be- 
came a tradition at Mercersburg. They always require 
two sides to get them up, and when one is wanting, 
there can be no fight. — The rowdies at Lancaster, when 
the College was removed to their city, expected to have 
a fight with the students ; and were fully organized for 
the coming conflict, without the knowledge of the stu- 
dents. In the evenings, and sometimes during the day, 
they stood at the corners of the streets, where the stu- 
dents passed by, blocking up the way. But to their 
surprise they discovered that they were not quick to 
assert their right of way ; and when they saw that they 
were gentlemen, they gave up their warlike prepar- 
ations, and as one of them informed us afterwards, 
acknowledged that they were sold. 

John R, Kooken. — Mr. Kooken, who was prominent 
in the affray already described, received his title at a 
Boarding Club in the early history of the College at 
Mercersburg. One member was called the Judge, 
another the Cardinal, and he was called the General, 
which suited him so well that he retained it among his 
friends throughout life. There was something martial 
in his appearance and style, as well as in his inner con- 
stitution. He was always regarded as the protector of 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 107 

the students, especially of the weak against the strong, 
whether good or bad. On one occasion, on a dark and 
stormy night, some of the students became alarmed at a 
suspicious light in one of the recitation rooms long after 
midnight. It was supposed that burglars were about 
the building, and Mr. Kooken was aroused from his 
slumbers and duly informed of all the circumstances. 
After dressing himself, as his room-mate, now Dr. Ger- 
hart, informs us, he seized his dirk, and proceeding to the 
door where the light was, he peremptorily demanded 
admittance. As this was refused, he broke open the 
door, when to his confusion he was confronted by Pro- 
fessor Budd, who, unable to endure the noise of the 
winds howling around him in the fourth story, had come 
down into his class-room on the first, and was poring 
over his mathematics, when the door was thus suddenly 
burst open. — His brogue had a rich flavor about it. 

Mr. Kooken became a useful minister of the Gos- 
pel, was the founder of the Reformed church at Norris- 
town. Pa., Principal of a Classical School successively 
at Norristown and Mercersburg, retaining all this while 
something of his martial air. Suffering from an affec- 
tion of the throat, he decided at last that it was best for 
him to engage in business, and so he obtained an ap- 
pointment as Consul at Trinidad, on the island of Cuba, 
under the administration of Mr. Buchanan. When the 
War for the Union broke out, he resigned his position, 



108 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

came home, formed a company of volunteer soldiers, 
and marched with them to the front. He fell at the 
head of his company at the battle of Fredericksburg, 
pierced with a bullet in his forehead, as a brave and 
chivalrous soldier, — always an admirer of Bonaparte. 

An Abolition Riot — When we entered College in 
1839 we heard, among many other incidents of the past, 
some account of an ^^ Abolition Riot,^^ which had taken 
place in the town, several years previously, which was 
fresh in the rocollection of everybody. It seemed to 
us at the time that it could not be possible that such 
things should occur in a Christian country like ours, and 
least of all in such a place as Merceisburg. A young 
clergyman of the Congregational Church, the Rev. G. 
Blanchard, afterwards distinguished as President of 
Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, arrived in town 
without any previous announcement. He sought the 
acquaintance of the Professors and mingled freely with 
the students. His conduct and general demeanor were 
unexceptional. He seemed to be a man of earnest 
Christian character, and wished to secure a hall or room, 
in which to address an audience on the subject of Sla- 
very. Mr. Daniel Kroh, a respected minister of the 
Reformed Church, now residing in Toledo, Ohio, has 
furnished us with the following account of the affair : 

"I was busily engaged at the time in my studies, 
preparing myself for the ministry. My two sisters 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 109 

lived with me and we boarded some of the students, so 
that I occupied the position of a citizen as well as of a 
student. On one occasion we debated the question of 
slavery in the Diagnothian Society, of which I was a 
member, when I took a stand against it and did my 
best to sustain my position. Hence I soon began to be 
dubbed "An Abolitionist.^^ I was not by any means 
radical in my views at the time. I merely maintained 
that the subject should be freely and fairly discussed, so 
that the Slave States might be induced to liberate their 
slaves in their own way, as Pennsylvania had done years 
before. 

When Mr. Blanchard made known his business at 
the hotel where he stopped, he was peremptorily ordered 
to leave the house, as the landlord was bitterly opposed 
to all discussion of the subject of slavery. He then 
came to my house and asked me to board him for a few 
days. Being unsuccessful in securing a place in which 
to lecture, he proposed to leave in a quiet and unosten- 
tatious way. 

On the evening before he was to leave, we all went 
down to the Methodist Church to hear the new preacher 
hold forth for the first time, and Mr. Blanchard went 
with us. But before we entered the door, he suggested 
to me that I should keep away from him, assuring me 
that he could find his own way back to the house ; but 
the boys had a sharp eye on him and pelted him with a 



110 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

shower of eggs and stones in front of the church. He 
retreated to the boarding house kept by Mr. Jonathan 
Wolfensberger where he found protection. As the crowd 
were closing in upon him, Mr. Jacob Ziegler, a student 
boarding there, met the rioters at the door and defended 
the house. By this time, hearing what was going on, I 
came out of the church, and calling a police officer 
I escorted Mr. Blanchard to my house. Captain Wil- 
liam Dick, my next-door neighbor, an officer in the war 
of 1812, stacked up some arms, and prepared himself to 
defend us in case we should be attacked ; but we passed 
the night without any further trouble. I attended to 
Mr. Blanchard^s clothes in a back room, and after he 
was thus cleansed and made presentable, he delivered to 
us a family lecture on his favorite topic. Next day we 
sent him off to Greencastle in a private conveyance, Mr. 
John Hiester, one of the students, a stout young man, 
accompanying him. Mr. Blanchard was a Christian 
gentleman, of fine abilities, and a good debater. He 
did not encourage war against slavery ; his object was 
to conquer it by argument. Some years afterwards I 
found him at the head of a fine college, out in Illinois.'^ 
Marshall College Begins, — After the High School at 
York had retreated to Mercersburg and formed a new 
base-line of operations, the time had arrived when it 
was to become a College, in name as well as in its cur- 
riculum. Other Colleges in the State had just been 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 111 

started ; Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg under the 
Lutherans had been in successful operation for several 
years, since 1832. The State had shown a disposition 
to cherish these young institutions by voting to them 
generous grants of money ; and the opportunity for the 
Reformed Church to get into line with other denomina- 
tions had arrived. The Synod in 1835 had appointed 
certain persons to be Trustees of the High School, now 
called the Academy, and instructed them to apply to the 
Legislature for a charter of incorporation. Their names 
were : John C. Hoffman of Reading ; William McKin- 
stry, Elliot T. Lane, William Metcalf, Daniel Schaffer, 
Dr. P. W. Little and William Dick of Mercersburg ; 
Frederick Smith, Barnard Wolff, John Smith, the Hon. 
George Chambers and the Hon. A.Thompson of Cham- 
bersburg ; George Besore of Waynesboro ; the Hon. 
Peter Schell of Bedford ; David Krause of Harrisburg ; 
Peter Snyder of Easton ; David Middlekauf of Adams 
county; and Henry Schnebly of Greencastle. The Syn- 
od did not say anything as yet about a College ; but the 
appointees arrived at the conclusion that this was the 
meaning of their appointment, and therefore they had a 
charter for a new College prepared, which was approved 
by the Synod one year afterwards, subsequently granted 
by the Legislature, and approved by the Governor 
March 31, 1836, with authority to go into effect on the 
9th of November following. The new institution re- 



112 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

ceived its name from Chief Justice Marshall, which was 
probably suggested by some person residing in Virginia. 
In connection with the granting of a Freibrief or Char- 
ter, the Legislature was so enlightened and generous in 
those days as to make a still more substantial grant, a 
gift of SI 2,000, for the use of the new institution, as it 
had already done for other Colleges in the State. It 
was just, right and becoming for her so to do. In what 
other way could she benefit the Commonwealth more 
than by encouraging, in this way, the higher education 
and culture of her people ? She has done her part fully 
in establishing her common schools ; but she has not yet 
done as much as some other States for her Colleges and 
Universities, which after all are her greatest ornaments 
and should be regarded as her highest honor. — Other 
grants were subsequently made by the Legislature to 
sustain the College for several years, which ceased sooner 
than was intended, on account of the financial embarrass- 
ments of the State. 

The Faculty. — Dr. Eauch was chosen President, and 
Professor of Hebrew, Greek, German, and of the Evi- 
dences of Christianity ; Mr. Samuel W. Budd, Professor 
of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and 
Botany ; and two other Professors were to be secured to 
teach the other branches of a classical course, as soon as 
the funds would allow. In the mean time the two 
teachers already on the ground did what they could to 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 113 

prepare the classes for graduation. In due course of 
time relief came and the faculty was strengthened. In 
the Fall of 1836 the Rev. Joseph F. Berg took charge 
of the department of Languages, and when he left, his 
place was temporarily filled by the Rev. Edw. Browne, 
until the arrival of Prof. Smith in 1838. We shall 
speak of these professors in another place. 

The Preparatory Department — Additional teaching 
force did not come at once, but gradually. The students 
increased rather rapidly in numbers and it became sim- 
ply impossible for two men for any length of time to 
teach the branches of a regular course, and at the same 
time to attend to as many other scholars in more elemen- 
tary branches. Accordingly, when the Charter went into 
effect on the 9th of November, 1836, a Preparatory De- 
partment was established and placed under the charge of 
the Rev. W. A. Good, who had experience as an assistant 
in the High School at York. The school prospered, and 
drew students from Mercersburg, the neighborhood, and 
the adjacent States of Maryland and Virginia. Mr. 
Good's duties also increased in his hands, and it soon be- 
came necessary for him to have assistance, with which 
in the course of time he was supplied by recent graduates 
of the college. His assistants were J. H. A. Bomberger, 
M. Kieffer, E. V. Gerhart and G. H. Martin, who are now 
well known as doctors of divinity. Mr. Good was well 
qualified for the position he occupied, dignified, accurate 



114 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

iu his scholarship, and paternal in his bearings towards 
his students. The school flourished under his rector- 
ship, and not only paid its own expenses, but yielded 
also a profit, which went to the support of the College, 
where it was much needed. It further helped to prepare 
increasing numbers of applicants for the Freshman Class 
from year to year. We could never understand why the 
first Rector did not remain more permanently at the head 
of the School. — Subsequently he became Principal of 
an Academy at Hagerstown, Md., pastor at York, Prin- 
cipal of the Normal School at Reading, was elected the 
first Superintendent of the Common Schools of Berks 
County, Pa., was pastor of several congregations in the 
country from time to time, was active in Missionary and 
Sunday-school work in city and county, and died a lear- 
ned man, respected by all who knew him, in 1873, in the 
city of Reading. He was modest and unobtrusive, a dis- 
ciple of Dr. Hendel, who had confirmed him, and more 
worthy of learned titles than many who are accustomed 
to receive them. 

Mr. Good^s Successors. — After Mr% Good withdrew 
from the Academy, it was placed first under the charge 
of the Rev. Gardner Jones, and afterwards under that of 
Mr. A. S. Young. Both served only for a brief period. 
In 1842 Prof. W. M. Nevin was appointed Rector, and 
Jeremiah H. Good, a recent graduate, was made Sub- 
Rector. — The former simply supervised, whilst the 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 115 

latter was practically the Rector. The assistants from 
time to time were Alonzo James Madison Hudson, 
brother to the Shakspeariau scholar, H. N. Hudson ; J. 
Milton Stearns, also from New England ; George Lewis 
Staley, Geo. W. Aughinbaugh, and for a few weeks or 
months, the writer of this history. 

A Note. — In the year 1846, Mr. Good went to Ohio 
— ^^ encouraged and specially urged thereto by the Rev. 
Dr. SchaflF — mainly with the view of establishing, if 
possible, a College and Seminary in the West.^' First 
he performed missionary work ; wrote extensively on 
the subject of missions ; started a missionary paper. The 
Western Missionary, on his own responsibility ; and sub- 
sequently, with his brother Reuben and others, became 
active in founding and building up the Literary and 
Theological Institutions, at Tiffin, Ohio. In 1850 he 
was elected Professor of Mathematics in Heidelberg 
College, and afterwards, in 1866, Professor in the Semi- 
nary, which position he still fills. His brother, the 
Rev. Reuben Good, became Professor of Natural Sci- 
ence in the College, and at the same time Rector of the 
Preparatory Department. These two brothers "started 
the infant institution at Tiffin in the same month, in 
1850, with five or six scholars, but before the end of the 
year it became a flourishing school.'^ 

The First Commencement. — The students of the High 
School at York had as far as possible been divided 



116 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

into four classes, and were required to pursue all the 
studies embraced in the usual College course at Prince- 
ton. At Mercersburg the four classes were fully formed, 
the Senior Class consisting of one member, the most 
advanced, who was prepared for graduation by the 
Fall of 1837. The First Commencement of Marshall 
College was an occasion, doubtless, of great interest, and 
second only in interest to the laying of the corner-stone 
during the previous year. A large number of people 
had collected from the towns and surrounding country. 
The procession was formed at the German Reformed 
Church and proceeded through the Main Street of the 
town, down to the Presbyterian Church in the order 
usually pursued on such occasions : first came the Brass 
Band ; then the Trustees ; the Faculty and the Orator 
of the preceding day, the Hon. Benjamin Champneys, of 
Lancaster, Pa. ; the Graduate ; the Clergy ; Physicians ; 
the Borough Council ; the Undergraduates ; and then 
Citizens and Strangers. 

When the procession had arrived at the Church, the 
Trustees and Faculty, together with those who were to 
participate in the exercises, took their seats on the stage 
surrounding the pulpit, the students and others occupy- 
ing seats reserved for them immediately in front of the 
stage. There were already about one hundred or more 
of them. The usual exercises then took place, which 
have been taking place annually ever since. It was a 
happy day to all alike. 



MARSHALL COLLEGE 117 

"The Oration of Mr. Bomberger (now Dr. Boro- 
berger), was highly creditable to himself as well as the 
Institution. At the close he addressed a few words to 
his fellow students and the professors, which were quite 
touching by their simplicity and pathos.^' — The address, 
published afterwards in the Messenger^ by the request of 
his fellow students, evinced considerable ability, and 
showed that the speaker had been well drilled in Moral 
Science. The subject was : The Moral Liberty of Man. 
— The address of Judge Champneys before the Literary 
Societies on the day previous was an able effort, full of 
sound, practical advice, and suitable to young persons 
who were soon to assume the duties and responsibilities 
of citizens in the Great Republic. 

The Seminary Building. — The new building for the 
use of the Seminary and Classical School was finished 
during the Summer of 1837 and ready for occupancy 
at the opening of the Fall Term in November. It was 
a fine edifice, spacious, and well adapted to the uses for 
which it was intended. The central building was 44 
feet by 48 deep, and the wings 31 by 40. There was a 
recitation room for each professor on the second story, 
as the students entered the building ; a spacious prayer 
hall on the third story ; and above it there was a hall 
of the same dimensions for the Library. The students' 
rooms were mostly in the wings, whilst the Refectory 
was in the basement story, large enough for a first-class 
hotel, where the students boarded in common, unless 



118 CX)LLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

by special dispensation of the Faculty they were allowed 
to board and room elsewhere in the town. 

As a matter of course everybody was pleased, pro- 
fessors no less than students. One of the latter informs 
us that the citizens of the place likewise partook largely 
in the general rejoicing. With pride they pointed out 
the Seminary Building to strangers, as a sentinel over- 
looking the tow^n. On a dark night it was especially a 
beautiful sight, sending forth dazzling lights from its 
numerous windows out upon the surrounding darkness. 
It was situated on rising ground on the northern side of 
the village, and was the first object to arrest the atten- 
tion of the belated traveler. It was a standing rebuke 
also to belated students, w^ho sometimes wandered too 
far away from their comfortable rooms after nine o^clock, 
P. M., and preferred the hideousness of night to their 
lessons and books. Other students, in successive gen- 
erations of college life, also noticed the appearance of 
the building, apparently all ablaze with light as they 
returned from their evening walks. It was indeed sug- 
gestive. The outward circumstances of the Institutions 
were often gloomy and discouraging. The noble vessel 
was launched on a dark and tempestuous sea, but it 
never ceased to emit light to those on board as well as 
to the dark world on the outside. — The students thus 
brought together and living as it were in one commu- 
nity of thought and sentiment, College Life may be said 
to have fairly made its beginning. 



CHAPTER VI 



College Life 

The routine at Mercersburg was about the same as in 
other institutions of that day. Although somewhat mo- 
notonous and sometimes a weariness to the flesh, it was 
nevertheless healthsome both to body and mind. By its 
order and regularity it left little or no room for any want 
of vigorous health, except in its violation. Whenever 
sickness or disease made its appearance, it was seldom, if 
ever, owing to hard study, but rather to excess of some 
kind, or to the want of regularity in eating, sleeping or 
recreation. In many cases it came with them from their 
homes. This was the opinion of one of the professors, 
who was a skillful physician and well acquainted with 
physiological science. 

Prayers. — In the Winter at six and in the Summer at 
five o'clock in the morning, all the students were aroused 
from their slumbers by the noise of a Chinese gong in the 
hands of the tutor, which waxed louder and louder, as 
it went from corridor to corridor, until it passed the door 
of each student's room, when there was a truce to all sleep. 
Lamps were lighted and the building from its numer- 
ous windows was all of a sudden illuminated, presenting 
the same appearance in the early dawn as it did on the 
evening previous, visible for furlongs over the valley. 



120 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

We then all of us assembled in the place of prayer. In 
the Winter, the hall was without any fire and as cold as 
a barn, around which the winds often held high carnival ; 
but the prayers were short, to the point and edifying ; 
and with such a good beginning, and glad to see each 
other, we dispersed to our rooms to begin the work of the 
day, until the same musical instrument called us to break- 
fast in another hall that was warm and comfortable. 

But did not the cold hall lead to irreverence? Possi- 
bly it did to some extent ; but there was less of it at these 
early prayers than we have sometimes witnessed at colle- 
ges where the students come together for prayers in halls 
that are more generously warmed, and everything is ar- 
ranged for the comfort of the body. A nd strange to say 
the punctuality in attendance was not any worse. 

As an intelligent physician, however. Dr. Green did 
not approve of early prayers in such a cold hall, for 
sanitary no less than devotional reasons ; and accord- 
ingly after testing the matter for a sufficient length of 
time, he made an inroad on the old traditional order of 
College devotions. He began to conduct morning pray- 
ers in the large Refectory after breakfast. The hour 
for breakfast was also changed to a corresponding ear- 
lier hour, so as to secure the useful feature of such a 
service — early rising — as well as its devotional purpose. 
What change from an old traditional rule of college life, 
introduced into this country from Europe, could have 



COLLEGE LIFE 121 

been more proper ? It worked well for a while, and al- 
ways so, for good students ; but strange to say, the old 
crookedness of poor human nature remained the same. 
There were still some students who did not attend 
morning prayers, and with them the excuse was, that 
they did not wish any breakfast, and so they omitted 
both eating and praying. After some experience of this 
kind, a slight change was made in the order of the day. 
The hour for eating remained the same, but the time for 
prayers was made to immediately precede the hour for 
the first recitation of the day, in the Prayer Hall, which 
was well warmed for the purpose. In this way pray- 
ing and working were brought into closer union, as they 
everywhere should be, and this order has obtained in the 
College ever since. It has not, perhaps, secured entire 
punctuality, nor banished all frivolity or irreverence at 
College devotions, as these things depend more on in- 
ternal causes ; but the rule has on the whole been satis- 
factory and it still stands as the law. 

A Note. — The gong of which we spoke did not last 
as long as was expected or desired. Daily there was 
such an expenditure of its living force, for recitations as 
well as for prayers, that exhaustion was the result, and 
it cracked. Then it was just as painful to listen to its 
sounds as it was pleasant before. It reminded us of 
the end of all things. A triangle, on the spur of the 
moment, made to order by the village blacksmith, took 
9 



122 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

its place for a time. We sighed for the old goDg and 
clamored for another to take its place : but we never got 
it. At length, in the way of a pleasant surprise, a 
sweet toned bell was sent to Mercersburg as the gift of 
the Race Street Church in Philadelphia, of which Dr. 
Berg was pastor, to be, as he said, "a sounding memo- 
rial of the good will of his people for the Seminary.^^ 
A short time previously he had sent to the Seminary a 
Roman Catholic convert, of whom we shall speak here- 
after, and this seems to have awakened in his mind a 
new interest for the institutions at Mercersburg. — But 
times change, and we also change with them. 

Study Hours. — By a wise arrangement of the fac- 
ulty, certain hours of the day were to be devoted to 
study and recitations, and the remainder of the time to 
recreation or sleep. This order was enforced, not too 
rigidly, and was generally obeyed. It had something 
of military rigor about it, but that made it all so much 
the more salutary. It was a protection to the students 
themselves, and helped to give a zest to their hours of 
freedom. This kind of a life separated them sufficiently 
from external cares and supplied them with that retire- 
ment from the world, which of all things young persons 
most need. Nothing could be more salutary than such 
seclusion, for the purpose of study and preparation for 
the active duties of life. As we were intended for 
public spheres in the future, this withdrawal from the 



COLLEGE LIFE 123 

world was first in order ; for study, thinking and prepa- 
ration to appear in public when the proper time should 
come. In a celebrated Grecian school, that of Pytha- 
goras, students were not allowed to speak for five years, 
but were required to maintain silence. But such was 
not our lot. Conversations and discussions were al- 
lowed at the proper time and place ; for in a country 
like ours, success in life depended on our being good 
talkers as well as good thinkers. 

After our early prayers we were supposed to be en- 
gaged with our lessons until breakfast, after which we 
could do as we thought best, walk or talk, until nine 
o'clock, when our recitations began. At each succeed- 
ing hour the gong called us from one class-room to an- 
other until twelve o'clock, which was then considered 
the work of one-half of the day. The other half was 
finished between the hours of two and four or five, when 
we were called once more to prayer, the faculty all be- 
ing in attendance. This, with some modifications that 
came in afterwards as improvements, was, in a few 
words, the order of life to which the students volunta- 
rily subjected themselves during three, four or more 
years, that Ihey might acquire a collegiate education. It 
was relieved of its somewhat monotonous character by 
anniversaries, commencements, or vacations, which in 
these circumstances acquired a keener flavor. 

The Nine- 0^ clock-Rule, — The rule for students to be 



124 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

in their rooms at 9 o'clock in the evening in Winter, and 
at 10 o'clock in the Summer, was on the whole well ob- 
served, as it allowed of exceptions, in all proper cases. 
Of course it could be evaded or violated, because it was 
quite easy for students to be in their rooms at 9 o'clock, 
apparently engaged in profound preparations for the 
coming day, and then afterwards, at a well-known sig- 
nal, to pass out of the building in small parties to spend 
the night in fun and frolic. Even those of them 
who roomed in professors' houses could get out of 
their windows in the second storv — when there were 
ropes to be had. As the police at Mercersburg were 
not very rigid — as at Lancaster and some other places, 
where noisy persons on the streets at night are usually 
put in the lock-up — the night ranging students at Mer- 
cersburg had the freedom of the town and country, and 
sometimes made their nights hideous. 

All this helped to show the necessity of the Nine- 
O'clock-Rule. Its violation was fraught with evil to the 
young men, and led to most of the dissipation and vice 
of College life. It is so also in other circles, because sin 
and wickedness love the cover of darkness, and riot most 
after nine o'clock at night. — Students were sometimes 
caught keeping late hours, but their skill in getting out 
of their rooms served them for the most part in getting 
in again without being observed. They, however, be- 
trayed themselves sooner or later in their class-rooms by 



COLLEGE LIFE 125 

their careless recitations, or by their general appear- 
ance. Teachers in Colleges are often pained to see in 
the faces of some of their students the sad indications of 
growing vice and dissipation, without any knowledge of 
the facts in the case. In most cases probably the down- 
ward course, the sapping of youthful vitality, had 
already commenced elsewhere, and was only hastened by 
freedom from the restraints of home in the College circle. 
A Note, — Dr. Ranch had a sharp eye with which to 
look into the moral condition of his students through the 
windows of the face, and seemed to know, sooner or 
later, the state of things on the inside. They were some- 
times surprised at his personal knowledge of them, and 
then at once they began to wonder what officious persons 
had supplied him with the information. On one occa- 
sion he was deeply grieved that some of his students, to 
whom he was lecturing on Moral Philosophy, were in a 
bad way — in danger of becoming confirmed inebriates. 
When he came to the subject of Temperancey therefore, 
he laid down what he conceived to be the scriptural and 
philosophical doctrine on the subject. In his view of 
the case this did not require total abstinence by any 
means, which was, moreover, somewhat opposed to his 
German nature and sense of freedom. Full aware, how- 
ever, of the gravity of the situation he turned to the 
class and proposed that they all should unite with him 
in signing a total abstinence pledge. The proposition 



126 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

was lost by a small minority, who, it was supposed, would 
have been most benefited by such a pledge. At first he 
did not have much confidence that any good would result 
from the temperance movement; but he saw it after- 
wards, when he was enlightened on the subject by Dr. 
Nevin. 

A Temperance Discussion, — Among the students of 
that day there was considerable diversity of sentiment 
in regard to the Temperance Question. Some were 
decidedly teetotalers ; some, according to the old Tem- 
perance platform, allowed a moderate use of liquor, such 
as pure wine or good beer ; whilst others claimed for 
themselves a much larger latitude, which was no tem- 
perance at all. The total abstinence men, only a few of 
them at first, were the aggressive party, and did not 
cease to hold forth their views. They were, moreover, 
strengthened in their cause by Tutor Stoddard and Pro- 
fessor Smith, who were from New England, and the 
result was a considerable degree of fermentation on the 
subject in student circles. 

At length it came to a public discussion in the Pres- 
byterian Church, which drew a very crowded audience. 
Mr. Stoddard, tutor in the College, did his best to sup- 
port the Total Abstinence cause, and ended a vigorous 
speech by telling a ^^ little story." It was the one that 
was frequently employed by temperance advocates forty 
or fifty years ago, and in the hands of such a lecturer 



COLLEGE LIFE 127 

as the Rev. Thomas Hunt brought down the house with 
a thunder of applause. It was the case of the man who 
concluded to cut off the tail of his dog gradually — cut- 
ting at it little by little every day. When expostulated 
with by his neighbors on account of the cries of the poor 
animal from day to day, he defended himself by saying 
that it was the most rational course for him to pursue. 
Mr. E. V. Gerhart, tutor in the Preparatory Department, 
replied to him in defence of the old view of temperance, 
on philosophical grounds, and ended his speech with a 
story which he also had to tell. It was the case of a 
man with a dog whose tail was too long, which he some- 
tinies switched against ladies' or gentlemen's clean clothes. 
The owner saw that something ought to be done, but in 
his haste to remove the offending member, he cut off 
both the rump and tail of his poor dog. This was a 
quick and happy retort — a quid pro quo — which amused 
the audience very much. The Total Abstinence advo- 
cates, however, in the long run gained the day, especial- 
ly when Dr. Nevin appeared on the ground and aided 
them. The old Temperance Society went to pieces; 
some of its members joined the party of progress ; and 
others appeared at least to fraternize with the " moderate 
drinkers,'' as they were then called. One of these latter 
was a theological student, for whom, alas, it would have 
been better, if with others he had signed the pledge at 
once. 



128 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Plenty of Music, — During our College life at Mer- 
eersburg the students were fond of music, and a con- 
siderable number among them were good performers on 
such instruments as the clarionet, the flute, the guitar, 
the violin and the bass viol. Dr. Ranch was himself a 
skillful performer on the piano, and most of us could 
sing, if all could not read off music, with the help of 
patent notes. We were, therefore, supplied with an 
abundance and a variety of music ; and at the close of 
the day especially, the sweet strains of the flute or clario- 
net floated out on the evening air with a bewitching ef- 
fect. People would stop on their way, look up at the 
sight before them, and listen with delight to this con- 
course of sweet sounds. Early in the morning and then 
late at night, our neighbor Ernst invariably played 
on his guitar, and its notes now come back in memory, 
after the lapse of many years, with all the vividness of 
their original melody. Music is everywhere refining, 
and nowhere more so than in college or family circles. 

Serenades. — This skill in instrumental music often 
led the students to go out after nine o'clock in the eve- 
ning — contrary to the rule, — to which of course no par- 
ticular objection was made, for the purpose of serenad- 
ing the more favored families of the town. — Once a 
Scotch bagpiper came to town in his provincial costume, 
and with the sweetness of his musical notes delighted 
everybody. He reminded us of Burns and Bannockburn. 



COLLEGE LIFE 129 

Before it was generally known that he was in the village, 
his services were secured for the purpose of serenading 
the young ladies in Mrs. Young's School, when it was 
supposed that all were sound asleep. The mellow notes 
of the bagpipe, varied at times with the weird voice of 
the piper, floated out over the " stilly night,'' in wild 
musical strains. It was after midnight, and the night 
was dark. Then all of a sudden it began to thunder 
and lighten, and soon the rain poured down in torrents, 
as we say. The party sought protection beneath the 
porch of the house, where they had to lie huddled to- 
gether for an hour or so, and listen to the discords of the 
elements. When the tempest was over, there was a 
calm, and after a few more Scotish airs, including " My 
Highland Mary," the party dispersed for the night and 
reached their rooms, without any other mishap. Mrs. 
Young persisted until she found out the names of all 
engaged in this serenade, and was rather fond of re- 
ferring to it in their presence in a quizzical way. 

Arbor Day. — In the course of time a substantial 
fence, with a good solid stone wall in front, was put 
up around the campus, which enclosed exactly four 
acres. This was a step in the way of progress, and as 
one thing suggests another, a day was set apart in the 
early Spring for the purpose of securing trees, each stu- 
dent being encouraged to plant a tree and call it after 
his own name. Different parties went out to the moun- 



130 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

tains and brought wagon-loads of what seemed to be 
thriving young trees and planted them on the same day. 
Some of them grew and are still standing ; but some of 
them did not, mostly on account of the soil which was 
rocky in places. 

The New Walk, — This being regarded as a successful 
achievement, Dr. Nevin encouraged the students to unite 
in making a new walk between the Seminary and the 
town, and for this purpose offered to give them another 
holiday. It was something that was much needed. But 
as the soil was mostly a thick clay, it was concluded that 
it would be best to make a pike. Accordingly, vehicles 
were engaged without expense, and stones and rocks 
were hauled on the ground from all quarters. Professor 
Nevin was then young, and being accustomed to dig 
away at the roots of words, he encouraged his party to 
dig up as many rocks as they could, because they would 
make the best foundation, showing that he was in earn- 
est by using the crowbar himself. The landowners were 
much pleased with this as well as with the removal of 
the stones from their fields. A good foundation being 
thus laid, it was covered with tan, and the entire work 
was finished before night. Aroused by our cheers. Dr. 
Nevin came forth from his study to inspect the work. 
He did not compliment us very highly for our skill in 
engineering, but was pleased. We had learned some of 
the general principles of that science under Professor 



COLLEGE LIFE 131 

Budd, but practice is needed as much as theory in Civil 
Engineering. — At Lancaster the professors and students, 
with some help from the outside, raised the money and 
engaged competent persons to make for them a good 
plank Walk down to the town, fully one-half of a mile 
in length, and the work was well done. But. Lancaster 
learned from Mercersburg. 

The Literary Societies, — The Literary Societies of a 
College have much to do with the charms of College life. 
They occupy pleasantly and profitably the attention of 
the students, are a potent element in the formation of 
their characters, and prepare them in their own way 
more than anything else for the duties of practical life. 
They are always the first to confront the new student, 
and he has no rest until he has made a choice of one or 
the other, and is fully initiated. His introduction to 
them is of the most pleasant character, and the civilities 
extended to him^ whilst he is yet a stranger, make him 
feel at once as if he were among friends. Nor do they 
cease altogether on one side, as soon as it is ascertained 
that he has made his choice of one of the Societies, as 
some cynically affirm. Consistency requires that in some 
degree at least they should be continued, or until there 
is good reason to withdraw them. So we found it to be 
the case. 

Their Libraries. — Each Society, of course, must have 
a library, and it was not long before both of them at Mer- 



132 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

cersburg, Diagnothian and Goethean, had collected re- 
spectable libraries, composed largely of the works of the 
best Classic writers iu the English language. We were 
surprised at the progress which had been made in this 
direction in 1839. Some of the books were old, the 
gifts of friends, but most of them were new, purchased 
by the Societies themselves, or presented by honorary 
members and friends. Much competition and zeal were 
manifested not to allow one Society to get in advance of 
the other in this respect. In their early history they 
thus displayed not only energy, but much of the spirit 
of chivalry in maintaining their honor untarnished and 
their escutcheons unsullied. The increase of their libra- 
lies was a point of prime importance, as was right and 
proper in the circumstanses, and they showed themselves 
equal to the emergency. It must also be admitted that, 
although they were in a certain sense secret societies, 
their libraries were not of an exclusive character, but 
always accessible to honorable Knights on the other 
side. 

Thdr Halls, — Success, as Virgil says, nourishes suc- 
cess, and so it was with the indomitable Goetheans and 
the invincible Diagnothians at Mercersburg. After they 
had once established their libraries on what they regarded 
as solid foundations, they thirsted for higher achieve- 
ments, to which a happy concatenation of events, or 
Providence itself as we might say, at length brought 



COLLEGE LIFE 133 

them. That was the erection of halls in which to place 
their libraries and supply themselves with better accom- 
modations fcr the transaction of business. The Prayer 
Hall did not suit. In the Summer time the windows 
had to be open, and thus the members of the other So- 
ciety below could hear all that was said ; or, if matters 
were discussed that required the profoundest secrecy, the 
windows had to be closed. 

Moreover, each Society was held responsible for the 
condition of the hall the day after it had held its weekly 
meeting. One morning its appearance was not at all 
creditable to the Society which had held its meeting in 
it during the previous evening. The walls back of the 
rostrum presented a sad appearance, covered over with 
hieroglyphics, which pained Dr. Nevin and tended to 
disturb the devotions of all alike. Of course he referred 
to the matter, and held the Society that had just met, 
responsible for this want of reverence or of aesthetic 
taste ; and all this the members had to bear in the 
presence of their rivals. It was hard to endure, and the 
Doctor's logic was for once disputed. The Society as 
such, according to one of his own distinctions, could not 
be justly held responsible for the offence, and it was not 
certain that any of its members were guilty, because 
some cranky member of the other Society might have 
done all the mischief at a late hour of the night, just to 
gain a point against a rival Society. Feeling began to 



134 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

run high, and secret meetings were soon held, at which 
the situation was discussed, and the expediency of erec- 
ting a hall considered. In fancy it was already built. 

A few days, or a week perhaps after this. Dr. Nevin 
from the rostrum gravely proposed to the students to un- 
dertake the work of erecting halls for their separate use. As 
the Societies of Princeton College had such halls the prop- 
osition was well received, and in the end actualized. The 
honor of this achievement was due largely to the class of 
] 843, although they received much of their inspiration 
from those that preceded them in college years. 

Back of this apparently romantic undertaking, howev- 
er, there was a stimulus of a special character, that enter- 
ed largely into this movement and gave it much of its po- 
tency. Some time before, certain members of the Board 
of Trustees residing in Mercersburg had become very 
much interested in favor of erecting a new building for 
the College in the southern part of the town ; and after 
talking over the subject with other members assumed 
that they had authority to go forward with such an un- 
dertaking. A contract was made and the brick were 
hauled on the ground in sufficient quantity for a very 
large building, such as was supposed to be needed for the 
College — but there was no money for the building. The 
Seminary Building had been erected for the use of both 
Seminary and College ; and at the present day it would 
still meet the wants of both tolerably well. But the brick 



COLLEGE LIFE 135 

were on the ground, and there' they lay exposed to the 
weather, in danger of going back to their original dust. 
What was to be done ? That was the question that wor- 
ried the President of the College in 1843 — often at night 
in his bed, whenever a vigorous rain beat upon his own 
castle. The brick had to be utilized or they would 
soon turn into a brick mound, such as are found at the 
present day on the banks of the Euphrates. It was a 
happy thought, therefore, when Dr. Nevin proposed to 
give a portion of them to the Literary Societies for noth- 
ing, on condition that they should be used for the erec- 
tion of two new halls They accepted of the proposi- 
tion, subscribed money themselves, received liberal sub- 
scriptions from their honorary members and friends, and 
in about one year's time they had erected their beautiful 
halls over on the College grounds, which they regarded 
as monuments more lasting than brass. 

Difficulties. — The period of their erection was one of 
life and animation, but they were not destined to assume 
their fair proportions without having first to pass through 
tribulations and trials. One of the preliminary conditions 
was that they should be precisely of the same size and 
shape, and present precisely the same appearance exter- 
nally. They were to be located at a certain distance 
from each other, with sufficient space between them for 
the future College building, of wliich they were to be 
regarded as the wings ; separated, it is true, to the eye, 



136 



COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 



but only to be so much the more closely connected in- 
ternally to the mind. They were to be the daughters 
of the College, and as they were of the same age, they 
were to be as much alike as twins. 

Whilst there was full freedom for competition in the 
internal arrangements of the halls, it was, however, 
somewhat difficult to enforce absolutely the rule of ex- 
ternal uniformity in the two buildings. One of them, 
owing probably to its internal arrangements, seemed to 
vary slightly — in a window or a trap door — and this it 
was alleged would allow the other to be made a little 
longer. This led to serious trouble, which Dr. Nevin 
himself could not allay ; but it was peacefully settled by 
the wisdom of a few Trustees, who came in and arranged 
matters in a satisfactory manner. The principal differ- 
ence on the outside was that the one hall had stone 
steps in front of the portico and the other handsomer 
ones of wood. 

Laying of Corner- Stones, — The ceremony of laying 
the corner-stone of the Goethean Hall took place on 
Goethe's Birth-Day, August 28, 1844, and was an occa- 
sion of great rejoicing. After the stone was laid in due 
form, the exercises in the grove back of the Hall were 
opened by a poem in the German language on the char- 
acter of Goethe, which was pronounced by the Rev. Dr. 
Schaff, the new professor, who had been recently called 
from Germany to a chair in the Theological Seminary. 



COLLEGE LIFE 137 

The poem was replete with poetic fire, appropriate to 
the occasion, and happily recited by the speaker, who 
was then in the ardor of youth and full of love for the 
fatherland. David Paul Brown, barrister, of Philadel- 
phia, delivered the oration of the day in his usual style 
of fervid, Irish eloquence. He was well known to the 
people of the place for his wit and humor, and so they 
prevailed on him to deliver one of his humerous ad- 
dresses in the evening. It was a laughable affair and 
amused the audience very highly. But after all it did 
not rise to the higher style of wit or humor, and bor- 
dered on the grotesque and ludicrous. The address of 
Professor Nevin, however, in the afternoon of the same 
day on " National Taste," delivered with a weak, feeble 
voice, and not very promising in the beginning, turned 
out to be an admirable performance, sparkling with a 
natural, unaffected humor, and was regarded as the best 
address of the day. 

^The Corner-Stone of the Diaguothian Hall was laid 
with appropriate ceremonies on the 4th of July of the 
year following. This was the day on which the Diag- 
nothians were accustomed to hold their Anniversary, and 
they sought to make the most of it by connecting with 
it an interesting ceremony. It was also a happy day, 
for them and for all. From a platform in the grove 
their speakers did their best and acquitted themselves 
well. Dr. Lewis Green, professor in the Western Sem- 
10 



138 CX)LLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

inary at Allegheny City, was the orator of the day and 
his subject was " The Puritan/^' It was a long and very 
able address of its kind, such as he perhaps thought 
was needed for the latitude of Mercersburg. It was as 
much intended, most probably, for Dr. Schaflf as for the 
rest of us, as the Doctor did not then understand the 
strength and greatness of Puritanism as well as he does 
now in his riper years. 

The most quiet man on occasions like this, but 
at the same time the most receptive to impressions of 
what was going on around him, was Professor Wm. M. 
Nevin. He was always delighted with the Halls, and 
became very much interested when he learned that we 
were writing out these Recollections. His muse once 
more awoke and prompted him to write the following 
beautiful lyric for our use, which will no doubt be read 
with interest in this connection : 

When These Two Halls Were New, 



Of my old friends, oh, are there yet 

A few remaining o'er, 
Who still look back with fond regret 

To those dear times of yore — 
To those dear times of yore, my boys, 

And bring again to view 
The gladsome sports we once enjoyed 

When these two Halls were new ; 
When these two Halls were new, my boys ; 

When these two Halls were new ! 



COLLEGE LIFE 139 

II 

They were our joy, they were our pride, 

Wrought through our helping hands ; 
For we the ready had supplied, 

Acquired from many lands — 
Acquired from many lauds, my boys; 

And when the work was through. 
How glorious was our triumph then, 

To see them standing new ; 
,To see them standing new, my boys; 

To see them standing new ! 

Ill 

Oh, don't you mind what joys we had 

Abroad and in each Hall, 
Which now it makes me rather sad 

In memory to recall — 
In memory to recall, my boys, 

When hearts were warm and true. 
And we for learning burned with zeal, 

When these two Halls were new ; 
When these two Halls were new, my boys ; 

When these two Halls were new ! 

IV 

Oh, mind ye not the vict'ries won 

In speaking and debate. 
And on the Sward the jovial fun 

Which did our hearts elate — 
Which did our hearts elate, my boys ; 

Whence vigor did accrue 
To limbs alike and souls, my boys ; 

When these two Halls were new. 
When these two Halls were new, my boys ; 

When these two Halls were new ! 

V 

Then, how we traversed every glade, 

And climbed each mountain's height, 
And every wid'ning scene surveyed 

With rapturous delight — 



140 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

With rapturous delight, my boys, 

And searched each cavern through. 
And then returned all knowledge earned — 

When these two Halls were new ; 
When these two Halls were new, my boys ; 

When these two Halls were new ! 

VI 

How proud we were to think upon 

The deeds we would achieve, 
When would our college work be done. 

And we these Halls would leave — 
And we these Halls would leave, my boys, 

Our callings to pursue ; 
But who e'er reached those hopes conceived. 

When these two Halls were new ; 
When these two Halls were new, my boys ; 

When these two Halls were new ! 

VII 

Ah, now they're standing all forlorn. 

Or turned to other use ; 
While we their sad condition mourn. 

Their ruinous abuse — 
Their ruinous abuse, my boys ; 

Yet still they wake to view 
The times lamented that were ours. 

When these two Halls were new ; 
When these two Halls were new, my boys ; 

When these two Halls were new ! 
Lancaster, Pa., 1886. 

The erection of the Literary Halls at Mercersburg 
was a feat of which the students were proud ; and it au- 
gured well for the future. They were useful, and in the 
circumstances of the College a necessity. Ample pro- 
vision was thus made for the libraries, which now grew 
more rapidly than before, whilst there was room for 
cabinets of natural curiosities, the beginnings of which 



COLLEGE LIFE 141 

were soon made. — The main halls, where the Societies 
held their weekly meetings, resembled Senate cham- 
bers on a small scale, and could not fail to inspire self- 
respect as well as stimulate the students to self-improve- 
ment in oratory and graceful writing. The style of the 
Halls was Grecian, pure and classic, which gave them the 
appearance of temples devoted to the Muses. These at 
once arrested the attention of strangers as the chief orna- 
ments of the town. There they stood, like two fair daugh- 
ters, but the space between them was never filled out with 
a College building as was contemplated, and as a conse- 
quence they presented the appearance of an unfinished 
picture. They, however, subserved a useful purpose in 
their generation. — It was a sad day, indeed, when the 
students on the removal of the College to Lancaster had 
to part with them ; but they lived in their thoughts and 
soon suggested to them the erection of similar Halls in a 
new campus. The latter were the outgrowth of the for- 
mer, and on a somewhat larger scale. 

Good Management — The immense pile of brick on 
the College grounds was thus utilized in the erection of 
the Halls ; but a large portion of it remained, and the 
question then was how to turn them to some useful pur- 
pose. That was also successfully accomplished not long 
afterwards. The old church in which the College wor- 
shiped had become dilapidated, and was not adapted for 
Commencements or other College purposes. The con- 



142 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

gregation was growing and likewise needed a better 
building. Accordingly they were told that if they would 
go forward and erect for themselves a new church, the 
College would supply them with the brick needed, 
which it could do, as it had still a good supply on hand. 
The proposition was accepted, and Trinity Reformed 
Church was erected, in which the College was forever 
to have the right to hold its Commencements and other 
exercises. Thus all the brick were consecrated to a sacred 
use, Dr. Nevin's mind relieved, and much needed build- 
ings erected that most likely would not have gone up at 
all, if it had not been for " Somebody^s folly,'^ at Mer- 
cersburg. Blunders, like offences, it seems must needs 
come, but as they will come, it is fortunate when 
there is some one at hand to turn them to account. 
That is the essence of good management. 

The Benefit of Such Societies. — Professor Nevin, who 
always had his eye on the movements of the two Socie- 
ties, and saw in their contests and rivalries something 
of the poetry of the ancient Grecian games, thus speaks 
of their utility in his address : * 

" The Literary Societies of a College, it cannot be 
denied, are of more account, in some respects, in pre- 
paring its students for active life, than even its labora- 
tories and lecture rooms. Such a Society, if it offer the 
advantage of a good library, and in addition to this, as 
is the case with your own, the opportunities of a well 



COLLEGE LIFE 143 

selected, constantly extending cabinet, ' cannot fail to 
create and cherish a taste for literature and science. By 
means of its weekly sittings, moreover, through the 
help of friendly criticism and the excitement of honest 
emulation, the capacities and resources of the members, 
as you are well aware, are elicited in the most favorable 
way ; while the parliamentary style in which its pro- 
ceedings in debating, oratory, and composition, are con- 
ducted, forms an admirable preparation, as you will un- 
derstand hereafter more fully perhaps than you do now, 
for the part they are to act in the end in the grand 
drama of life. It is not seemly that they should be se- 
creted in the main building of a college edifice. They 
deserve to appear publicly in tasteful buildings of their 
own, like daughters to say the least, on each side of their 
Alma Mater.'' 

The German Language. — It is well known that the 
question of language had much to do at first in retarding 
the progress of Lutheran and Reformed schools of learn- 
ing in this country. The diflficulty did not lie so much in 
the necessity for such institutions, which everybody ad- 
mitted, but in the character which they were to possess, 
whether they were to be German or English. This was 
the case at the Reformed Synod at Bedford. There the 
opposition was based on the fear that the proposed Semi- 
nary would not properly meet the wants of the Church, 
which was still prevailingly German. There was a 



144 C50LLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

want of confidence in the English tendencies, which 
were growing stronger every year. The difficulty could 
not be settled by arguments or debate : it had to be 
solved practically by the progress of events. Confi- 
dence, it is said, is a plant of slow growth. 

It was, therefore, particularly fortunate that from the 
beginning the College and Seminary at Mercersburg as- 
sumed an Anglo-German character. In a country like 
ours the instructions had to be conducted mainly in the 
English language ; but this did not necessarily set aside 
the mother tongue of the Church. In the College it 
was taught, and honored for what it was worth in itself, 
and for the rich treasures of learning and literature 
which it contained. The first President of Marshall 
College was a foreign German himself, and he infused 
a love for the German language and literature into the 
minds of his students, using himself the English lan- 
guage. It, therefore, gradually began to be seen and 
felt that all that was valuable in German character or 
German Christianity could be retained even though 
there was a change in language. It was here the spirit 
that was of more account than the outward form. This 
was the feeling which we found prevailing when we en- 
tered the College in 1839. 

An admirable opportunity was here afforded us of 
learning a living language as well as those that were dead ; 
and that was one of the richest and the best ever spoken. 



COLLEGE LIFE 145 

With its treasures of learning, with its long list of great 
authors, it opened up a new world to the students. If 
any of us had entered the school with prejudices against 
the language — on account of the dialect which we were 
accustomed to hear on the streets, or for less worthy rea- 
sons — we were soon cured of such impressions, when 
we were confronted with the language in its purity, not 
inferior to that of Homer or Plato, and a literature 
superior to that of Greece and Rome. As spoken by 
Dr. Ranch, it was rich, mellifluous and musical. Our 
prejudices still further gave way as we heard and 
learned something of Kant, Schelling, Hegel, Schleier- 
macher, Neander, Tholuck, Hengstenberg, Gcethe, Schil- 
Jer, Richter, Lessing and others. Forty or fifty years 
ago they were scarcely known in this country, even 
among scholars ; and young men were excusable if they 
had not even heard of their names. Most of them went 
to college under the impression that Bacon, Locke, 
Paley, and other great lights of English Literature 
occupied seats high up in the temple of fame, that could 
not, and indeed should not, be disputed by rivals from 
any other quarter. German philosophy was mere mys- 
ticism, of no use, and positively injurious, it was said; 
German theology, which was just beginning to cross the 
ocean, was considered as still more dangerous. An 
eminent theological professor in the East, who seldom, 
if ever, said a foolish thing, did, however, about this 



146 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

time say that it would be better for the world if Ger- 
man Theology were ^^sunk in the middle of the At- 
lantic/^ 

Dr. Ranch disabused our minds of this, as well 
as many other false prepossessions, in which he was 
assisted by the authority of Mr. Carlyle, who was 
beginning to be read in this country as well as in Eu- 
rope The admirable address of Dr. Nevin on the 
German language in 1842, coming from such authority, 
tended in the same direction and effectually dissipated 
all remaining scepticism in the minds of the students — 
of those who were German in tongue or brogue no less 
than of such as were exclusively English. 

Thus encouraged, and surrounded by such an atmos- 
phere, the students, — many of them, not all, — prosecuted 
the study of German with considerable zeal. Our ob- 
jective point was to be able to read Schiller, Goethe, and 
other giants in the German pantheon for ourselves. 
This was a wise direction given to our studies, which no 
one of us ever had occasion to regret. It gave us one of 
the advantages of study at Mercersburg, which was 
probably not enjoyed in any other institution, at the same 
time, in the United States. Some of us, we think, 
would now say that our acquisition of the German lan- 
guage has been of more advantage to us than our knowl- 
edge of Greek, Latin, or of any other single branch ; and 
that it is one of the last that we would now be willing 
to sacrifice. 



COLLEGE LIFE 147 

Whilst Dr. Ranch was with us he was the chief 
source of our inspiration for the German tongue : after 
his death there was perhaps some decline of interest in 
this study for a few years, until the arrival of Dr. Schaff 
in 1845, who fairly carried us away in our zeal for 
everything that was German or belonged to the Father- 
land. His theological lectures, which we transcribed as 
he read them, sentence by sentence, together with his 
sermons and talks, were of great account to us in per- 
fecting us in the use of the language. 

German Optional. — Somebody always taught us 
German during our College course, Mr. Young, Rabbi 
Bernstein, Christian R. Kessler or Max Stern ; but un- 
fortunately the study was optional, and this operated 
unfavorably upon the teachers and students alike. 
Classes were formed at the beginning of the term, but 
because the students could do as they wished in the 
premises, they usually grew smaller before the end ; still 
a number always held out, and showed Teutonic cour- 
age. It was perhaps impossible at that period to change 
this optional feature, and make the study of German 
compulsory, by placing it on a level with the Latin and 
Greek. Indeed when it was sometimes spoken of, it 
aroused opposition ; and it was maintained by a certain 
class of students, that the College as a classical institu- 
tion had no right to enforce the study of such a language 
as the German. But truth is mighty and in the end 



148 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

will prevail. The voluntary principle implied some 
want of respect or proper appreciation of German Liter- 
ature, as well as of the language. This was something 
that Dr. Falck could not endure, when he became Pro- 
fessor of the German Language in the institution at 
Lancaster, and he very properly insisted that the study 
of German should be put on a level with other branches 
of the course. There was never any difficulty in enforc- 
ing the rule when it was once enforced. 

Die Deutsche Literarische GesellschafL — In the year 
1839 we found that there was a German Literary Society 
as well as two others which were purely English. It 
met weekly and aflForded its members an opportunity to 
exercise themselves in declamation, composition, in origi- 
nal orations or dialogues, and debate, no matter how we 
spoke or pronounced. We found it to be a useful institu- 
tion, especially in accustoming us to the sounds of Ger- 
man words and in exercising our tongues to pronounce 
certain German vowels and gutterals that were strange. 
Some of the members expressed themselves accurately 
and fluently, and became useful helps and guides to the 
rest. Thankful to them still we here put their names 
on record : they were Theodore C. W. Hoffeditz, S. S* 
Rickly, who was a Swiss, C. H. Leinbach, Gen. Kooken, 
A. S. Leinbach, J. S. Foulk, D. Y. Heisler, Fred. W. 
Dechant, N. S. Strassburger, F. W. Kremer, William 
E. Yearick, and several others, who were our teachers. 



COLLEGE LIFE 149 

Henry Harbaugh, who could only speak the German 
Pennsylvania dialect and was sharply criticised, G. 
William Welker, Jeremiah H. Good, Reuben Good and 
some others, including ourselves, were the learners. 

Zwei Gesellschaften. — The Society had its periods of 
growth and decline ; once, however, it showed strength 
enough to get up a German Exhibition in the Church, 
which drew a crowd of hearers, who wished to hear us 
speak without understanding much of what we said. 

It was a Literary Society in all respects like the other 
two in the same institution ; but it lacked in a library 
and the principle of rivalry, which infused life into the 
two other Societies. Mr. Strassburger b}' his persistence 
and strong will did much to hold it together. But in 
the course of time it showed that it had recuperative 
energies, and that it could form two associations that 
would be each stronger than it was itself. In fact it 
embodied two principles, antithetical rather than antag- 
onistic, brought in from opposite quarters. One of the 
English Societies at this time had in some degree monop- 
olized the principle of Law, the other of Freedom to a 
like extent. They grew out of two other still deeper 
principles. Liberty and Necessity, upon which as poles 
all history is said to revolve. The one involves the 
other and is necessary to its existence ; but sometimes 
they are separated from each other and then springs up a 
crisis in history, until they come together again. Thus 



150 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

it was in the German Society. The two principles, no 
longer only antithetical and complementary, became 
antagonistic; and the result was a division. Two So- 
cieties were formed, one named after Ranch and the 
other in honor of the poet Schiller. The storm, how- 
ever, soon blew over, and the natural equilibrium was 
again restored. The Societies did better than ever be- 
fore. They made a beginning in getting together libra- 
ries, on whose shelves all of the great German Classics 
were to find a place ; but owing to some cause, which 
we could never understand, they declined when the re- 
moval of the College was agitated, and they never got 
to Lancaster. It was a misfortune. 

The Law School, — The Law Department connected 
with Marshall College was located at Chambersburg, 
under the charge of the Hon. Alexander Thompson, LL. 
D., as Professor. Recitations and examinations took 
place in this school three times a week, at which the 
principles of the science of Jurisprudence were carefully 
investigated; a Moot Court was held from time to time, 
in which fictitious cases were argued by the students in 
the presence of the Professor, who acted as Judge ; and 
thus the course of studies included not only the funda- 
mental principles of the science, but such practice as 
was necessary to a full preparation for the bar. Judge 
Thompson was one of the ablest civilians of the State, 
and his School, though never large, sent forth from time 



COLLEGE LIFE 151 

to time first class lawyers, among whom was the late 
Vice President of the United States, Mr. Hendricks. — 
The students, after they had finished their studies, and 
sustained a final and satisfactory examination, received 
the degree of Bachelor of Laws from the Faculty of 
Marshall College. The connection between the two 
institutions was more nominal than real ; and there was 
little or no intercourse between the students of the two 
institutions ; yet such as it was, it served to show that 
the idea of a university was floating in the minds of 
some persons, at least, at that early day. If is a growth 
that has not yet been realized ; but it is to be hoped that 
it may still come to pass, if not in the present century, 
then in the next. 

The Theologians. — The connection of the College 
with the Seminary at Mercersburg, on the other hand, 
was much closer, forming as it were one family of older 
and younger brothers. The desirableness of this associa- 
tion of collegiate with divinity students, in the same 
building, was every now and then questioned, sometimes 
by the former and sometimes by the latter, but always, 
as we thought, without good reasons. The younger 
members of the family were sometimes boisterous, and 
when out of sight but within hearing, at times they may 
have been profane ; whilst on the other side, the devo- 
tional air of the theologians may have been regarded as 
too much of a rebuke to the levity of the youngsters. 



152 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

At times errors may have been committed on both sides. 
The freedom of youth may have been too sharply criti- 
cised and due allowance not made for the overflow of 
mere animal spirit ; or the boys may not always have 
paid proper respect to age and superior attainments ; but 
no one's cloth was soiled and this mutual intercourse, 
even if it involved occasionally some friction, was al- 
ways salutary in the end. The Seminarians, especially 
those who were resident graduates, gave tone and char- 
acter to the institutions, and imparted to College life a 
higher and more ideal character. Something similar 
would doubtless be the result, if college students could 
be brought into relation with the more advanced stu- 
dents of medicine, law or other professions in the same 
institution, as in German universities. This is begin- 
ning to be the case with some institutions also in our 
own country. To undergraduates the greatest ben- 
efit must result from intercourse with theological stu- 
dents ; and it will be only so much the greater, if the 
latter are well posted, not only in theology but in other 
matters. In this way they may be able to make them- 
selves useful to their younger brethren, in elucidating 
for their edification difficult points in philosophy or 
theology, and thus guard them against rationalism, or 
the rank scepticism or infidelity that pervades the pop- 
ular literature of the day, and sometimes vegetates in 
rank luxuriance in our seminaries of learning. Whilst 



COLLEGE LIFE 163 

exercising their own graces in this way, without being 
oflScious, they may render useful help to inexperienced 
young men, who, away from the restraints of the paren- 
tal roof, are thrown upon their own resources in the 
formation of their characters. Some influence of this 
kind was always exercised at Mercersburg. There was 
little or no infidelity among the College students, what- 
ever they were in other respects ; or, if there was any- 
thing of the kind when they came there, it gradually 
passed away. It was owing, as many of us believed, to 
the theological and philosophical atmosphere that per- 
vaded the institutions. — We all felt some sense of 
responsibility, no doubt, but probably never as much as 
we did when we came to leave. 

We remember that as theologians we once met to- 
gether on Sunday afternoon, for some general purpose of 
mutual edification. The question of our duty to the 
College students came up and was earnestly considered. 
The conclusion arrived at was that we should exert our- 
selves, wherever we had influence, to induce students to 
place themselves under instructions preparatory to con- 
firmation. Some took charge of perhaps only one indi- 
vidual, whilst others looked after a larger number. 
Probably most of the young men not in the Church were 
thus urged in a quiet way, to flee from the wrath to 
come. The result was that several of the most promis- 
ing class responded affirmatively to our appeals, and in 
11 



154 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

due time they were confirmed by Dr. Nevin, when the 
Lord^s Supper was celebrated for the first time in the 
College Chapel. These catechumens remained true to 
their vows and honored their Christian profession. 

A College Paper, — There was great diversity of char- 
acter and talents among the students, as might be ex- 
pected, and so there was one who had journalistic pro- 
clivities. His extremities were of unequal length, and 
it was necessary for him to wear a cork- shoe, from which 
he received a nickname. He limped somewhat, was 
mercurial, inquisitive, and had the air of a reporter. He 
commenced his paper — with a long name taken from 
Sterne, consisting of twenty-eight letters — on a small 
scale, and issued it once a month, containing current Col- 
lege news, carefully transcribed in his own handwriting. 
Gradually the paper increased in size until it was nearly 
as large as the Messenger, and it improved with each 
successive number. It would have compared favorably 
with College papers of a later date. The students pre- 
pared spicy articles for its columns, in poetry as well as 
in prose, and when it made its appearance, it produced 
something of a breeze, as it passed from room to room. 
Generally it was respectful ; but sometimes it contained 
a sly thrust at some member of the faculty or some reli- 
gious student, perhaps a theologian. This was unfor- 
tunate, as it started opposition papers, and in the end led 
to its discontinuance. It was entertaining and did much 



COLLEGE LIFE 155 

to improve the style of those who wrote for it, as it gave 
them a natural style of composition. 

A Duel. — Editors are sometimes prone to involve 
themselves in difficulties that lead to dueling, and it so 
turned out with our editor. Too suddenly taking of- 
fence at something which another student had said or 
done, he peremptorily sent him a challenge, which he 
was advised to accept — with the secret understanding 
that no blood would be shed. The editor, however, 
was not told that nothing more dangerous than poke- 
berries would be used on the occasion. When the time 
arrived for the duel, his courage gave way, and on the 
ground he piteously plead for a more peaceful way of 
settling the difficulties ; but his seconds were inexorable, 
and would listen to nothing but a settlement according 
to the code of honor. At the report of the pistols, his 
opponent fell of his own accord, when he fled from the 
ground in great consternation and hid himself somewhere 
in the country, until he learned that his friend had suf- 
fered no harm. It was a salutary lesson for Cork Leg, 
as he was called. After this he improved in all re- 
spects, became serious, joined the Church, lived an hum- 
ble. Christian life, and adorned his profession until his 
end came. 

A Revival. — Revivals were the order of the day, and 
when they were reported as occurring in other Colleges, 
the desire sprung up that something of the kind should 



156 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

likewise take place among the students at Mereersburg. 
It was hoped that in this way the cause of religion would 
be promoted, and that some of the young men who were 
going astray might be saved and be brought into the 
ark of safety. The Messenger hoped that such " a work 
of grace^^ might visit our institutions also ; and the stu- 
dents, who had passed through religious excitements at 
their homes, did what they could to bring it about. At 
length it came to pass in a manner least expected. It 
had occurred some time before we entered college, but 
there was a good deal said about it still when we arri- 
ved. As it throws light on the history of the times, we 
here give some account of it as we heard of it from 
others. 

One of the students, probably the most depraved in 
the institution, profane and guilty of sins that subjected 
him to removal from the College at any time, having 
attended an exciting meeting in the town, all at once 
appeared to be deeply anxious about his soul. He prayed 
loud and earnestly, and his prayers made a profound 
impression on those around him. It looked as if he 
were a second Saul of Tarsus striving to return from the 
error of his ways. Prayer meetings were held for his 
benefit ; other students, some of his companions, became 
affected ; the mourner's bench was called into requisi- 
tion; and apparently a deep feeling spread over the 
College circle. Some good was effected, but nothing of 



COLLEGE LIFE 157 

a permanent character. There was no reformation in 
the praying student, and he went back again to his old 
ways. In the end it was gravely suspected that his pre- 
tended seriousness was all a ruse to escape the discipline 
of the Faculty, which he had good reason to believe was 
impending over him at the time. 

What was here called a revival and by the Messenger 
a " work of grace/^ was most likely a mere religious 
excitement, which like many others of similar character 
soon passed away. Such outbreaks of the religious na- 
ture in men were not something new. They have mani- 
fested themselves in all ages of the Church, and also in 
pagan lands. They are mainly psychic, confined to the 
lower nature of man, without necessarily affecting the 
pneumatic, or higher, spiritual part of his being, where 
Christianity, the Religion of the Spirit, has its seat. 
Where they are kept from running wild altogether and 
receive proper direction and elevation from some spirit- 
ual source, they are useful and have been the means of 
developing some strong characters. Millerism has thus 
served to awaken a few men to a sense of their condition, 
who afterwards became true Christians. But when 
mere animal excitement is not thus elevated into the 
spirit, it does more harm than good to most persons. The 
light that is in them is darkness, and it becomes very 
great. 

Dr. Ranch, with his profound knowledge of the 



158 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

human soul, made proper account of the religious ex- 
citement just referred to, and sought to turn it to useful 
account when it broke out among the students. He 
visited them from room to room, spoke to them about 
their spiritual interests, and endeavored in a judicious 
way to give them correct views of the nature of true 
religion. 

The Means of Grace, — When we entered Marshall 
College in 1839, we found the atmosphere intensely re- 
ligious, such as it was, and that the means were at hand 
to keep up the fires of devotion. On the Lord^s Day we 
had divine services in the Chapel, except when the pro- 
fessors were called on to act as supplies to the Reformed 
congregation in the town. On each successive Sunday 
we heard a different preacher, but in the course of time 
the clergymen in the institutions were reduced in num- 
ber, and Dr. Nevin for the most part preached for us. 
He revived an old rule, rigidly enforced in the begin- 
ning by Frederick, the Pious, in the Fatherland, to 
keep the people from falling back into " the old super- 
stitions,'^ and delivered every Sunday a sermon on one 
or more questions in the Heidelberg Catechism, which 
was no doubt as edifying to him, being yet somewhat of 
a stranger in the Church, as it was to us students. 

The Rev. Father Rebough of Greencastle served the 
Reformed congregation in the place, somewhat in the 
character of a supply or missionary, every two or four 



COLLEGE LIFE 159 

weeks, and the College people were accustomed always to 
come down and unite in the communions with the con- 
gregation. Our Reformed people in the place were be- 
hind the times in their old building no less than in most 
other respects ; but there were good men and women 
among them, and they were in earnest in their eflForts 
to get up on a higher plane of Christian life. The pro- 
fessors from the pulpit tried to arouse them from 
their sleep, and the students helped the good work along 
in the Sunday-school and prayer meeting. But the re- 
ligion of those times went a good deal by fits and starts. 
Strengthened and revived at one communion, it sunk 
down pretty low — not far from desolation as was sup- 
posed — by the time the next one came on. Then the 
thermometer gradually began to rise during the series of 
meetings until Sunday night, when all seemed to be suf- 
ficiently refreshed and revived. Father Rebough was 
fluent and an excellent exhorter ; and so if there was any 
want of point or practical application in the sermons 
delivered in the Chapel, in due season it was fully cor- 
rected at the Church. 

Prayer Meetings. — Prayer meetings were maintained 
among the students no less than at the Church. The 
first which we attended were held, one on each of the 
four stories of the Seminary Building, immediately after 
the gong was heard, at nine o'clock in the evening. 
They were useful in exercising young converts in the 



160 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

gift of prayer ; but they did not work well. The stu- 
dents were weary, and one of them occasionally would 
fall asleep on his knees and not rise with the rest of us. 
Besides, these meetings seemed to be out of time, and 
the secular students did not like them ; and usually 
objected to them on the ground that they were held du- 
ring study hours, and annoyed them in their preparations 
for the next day. They were introduced by Mr. Stod- 
dard and came from New England. They gradually 
died out. 

When Dr. Green became Professor, he took a deep 
interest in such meetings, and sought to give them more 
permanence and regularity. At first they were conduc- 
ted quite early on Sunday morning, but that time did 
not suit everybody, and so they were held in the Chapel 
after breakfast. Then the meeting grew in strength and 
numbers from year to year until it became a power in 
both institutions. When a number of us left in 1845 
to enter the ministry, the chapel was usually full of in- 
terested and devout students. Our last meeting was 
especially affecting. We had many edifying experiences 
in that place. At the close the students gathered around 
us and wished us well in our future work, regretting 
that we should no longer meet with them in what was 
felt to be a sacred place. Mr. David A . Wilson, a Sen- 
ior, who always loved this Sunday morning Prayer 
Meeting, and did much to encourage the students to 



COLLEGE LIFE 161 

attend, pressed us with a warm hand as we thus asunder 
parted. He afterwards became President of Alexander 
College in Liberia, Africa. 

Sunday-schools. — The students sought to make them- 
selves useful in the Sunday-schools of the place, irre- 
spective of denomination, but appeared in full force in 
the Reformed school, where under the leadership of 
Dr. Green they did a good work, almost realizing his 
ideal of what such a school should be. In the Summer 
time, on Sunday afternoons, they organized in school- 
houses, several miles in the country, at Bridgeport, 
Shimpstown, and other places ; and after the children 
were dismissed, they sometimes had a service for the 
older people, at which those of the more advanced theo- 
logical students delivered their iSrst discourses. Some 
of the less advanced students, in the College or Pre- 
paratory Department, went to more distant parts in 
their missionary trips, out to the mountains or over 
into the Coves, and spoke with acceptance to crowded 
houses. They were natural speakers, and their services 
were appreciated by the people — in some cases, with gifts 
of provision or something else. — Whilst the institutions 
were at Mercersburg, they exerted a quickeniug influ- 
ence upon the surrounding churches, and in a few years 
manifest indications of thrift and progress could be seen 
all over the Classis. 



162 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Tendencies, — From what has already been said, the 
reader will naturally infer that whilst there was a con- 
siderable amount of religious feeling in the institutions, 
there were also different tendencies at work. It could 
not be otherwise. The Church was in a transition state, 
and the young men coming from all parts of the land, 
from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, or the West, 
reflected the sentiments and views of their own section 
of the country. A considerable portion of them had 
passed through revivals at home, whilst others had 
passed only through the catechetical class into the 
Church. When one of the latter once made the remark 
that he had never been in a revival, he was looked upon 
with surprise, as if he were behind the times, and per- 
haps needed some additional experience of grace. As 
at Chambersburg we found around us the spirit of the 
new-measure system, and a more or less puritanic or 
methodistic style of thinking, praying and talking. It 
could be felt better than pointed out. But there was 
also a positive Reformed life, and thus there were two 
tendencies, which could be felt better than defined. In 
some respects the Reformed representatives were behind 
those who sympathized with revivals ; as they certainly 
were when Moses Kieffer and E. V. Gerhart on the Re- 
formed side argued against two Presbyterians, Mr. 
Brownson and Mr. Stoddard, in favor of the old Tem- 
perance platform in the Presbyterian Church. The two 



COLLEGE LIFE 163 

tendencies, however, lived together in peace, with only 
an occasional display of criticism or uncharitableness. 
Thus it was sometimes feared and said, that General 
Kooken and his room-mate would never become preach- 
ers of the right kind ; Andrew S. Young might pass, 
but as for Henry Harbaugh — afterwards author and 
professor of theology, no less than a powerful preacher 
of righteousness — it was a doubtful case whether he ever 
would come to anything at all in the ministry. He was 
free spoken and had very little of cant about him. Both 
he and his ancestors were genuine Swiss and could not 
be anything else but Reformed. Henry, however, was 
not behind anybody on the subject of Temperance or 
Slavery, just as afterwards he never lagged in the rear 
on the question of the Union. 

Jacob B, Shade. — Mr. Shade was one of the best 
specimens of the more austere and puritanical circle 
of students. He had come to Mercersburg with some 
half dozen or more pious young men^ candidates for the 
ministry^ from what was called the " burnt district'' in 
Chester and Montgomery Counties, where the Rev. John 
C. Guldin had carried on revivals, or more properly 
speaking, was carried along himself by the swelling tide. 
Mr. Shade was modest, retiring and earnestly prayed 
for the revival of religion among us. His prayers were 
doubtless answered, although probably not in the par- 
ticular form, in which he framed them, which is some- 



164 CX)LLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

times the case with the prayers of the most righteous. 
He pursued only a partial course of study, but he im- 
proved himself so rapidly in the time he was with us 
that he arrested attention and commanded the respect of 
all alike, for his earnestness and consistency. His career 
in the ministry was a short but successful one. He 
died early, and most probably from undue physical 
exertion in his work. An officer of the American Tract 
Society once met him as a colporteur, and afterwards 
remarked that "he was the most pious young man he 
had ever seen.^^ — He was our J. B. Taylor. Our 
memory here calls up the names and faces of a number 
of worthy students who belonged to the same school as 
Mr. Shade ; they had come from the same country of 
revival fame, and probably had had the same pastor : 
Geo. Strickland, Henry Hoffman, Joseph B. Thompson, 
Aaron Wanner and Alfred B. Shenkle. Only the two 
last mentioned still remain with us ; the others rest 
from their labors in a world where the various tenden- 
cies that come into conflict in the Church Militant are 
all reconciled in the Church Triumphant. 

1^0 College Church. — The organization of a congre- 
gation for the benefit of the institutions at Mercersburg 
was probably never thought of. The circumstances 
were unfavorable, and the congregation in the town 
needed the presence and support of the students and 
professors. But, as we can now easily see, this outward 



COLLEGE LIFE 165 

connection with another and distinct body was a dis- 
advantage to the religious life of both College and 
Seminary. Preaching and the sacraments go together^ 
and where the one is dispensed, the other should also be 
dispensed by the same properly constituted authority. 
As we were not a regularly organized congregation, no 
collections were lifted, no catechetical classes formed and 
maintained for the special benefit of the students, and 
with one or two exceptions, there were no celebrations 
of the Lord^s Supper. Had we been a regular church, 
the influence of such an organization would have made 
itself felt in the general life of the institutions ; and the 
probability is that a number of young men, who 
remained out of the Church, might have been induced 
to connect themselves with a class perparatory to confir- 
mation. — But we grew wiser by age and experience. 

The Holy Days. — We were living in a community 
where there were properly speaking no Holy Days. They 
had all become holidays. Christmas and New Yearns 
Day had become entirely secularized, and were in fact 
the dreariest days in the College calendar. It was thus 
in the town, where the young people were noisy, whilst 
drinking and carousing were the order of the day and 
of the night. It reminded us of the return of the old 
Saturnalian freedom of which Horace wrote. Between 
Christmas and New Year there was little study, and the 
*^ wild students," as they were called, were wilder and 



166 (X)LLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

more uproarious than at other seasons of the year, often 
making it perilous for a person to pass from one story 
down or up to the other. Good Friday and Easter 
were scarcely recognized when they came. In the insti- 
tutions as well as elsewhere sacred seasons generally 
were at a discount, and those who wished that a better 
state of things should be brought about, were helpless. 
The time had not yet come. Gradually, however, there 
was an improvement, as German ideas and German 
customs began to assert themselves. In theory the 
Church Year was asserted and maintained over against 
those who denied its claims ; but in practice it was in a 
great measure ignored, not only at Mercersburg and 
Chambersburg, but in many other places in the re- 
gions round about. The decay of the Church Year 
carried with it the decay of other good things connected 
with it, such as the Creed and that variety in the themes 
of the Sunday sermons, which is necessary in order that 
the whole counsel of God may be proclaimed to men. 
If the subjects of the sermons of that day had been 
classified, it would have been found that they were con- 
fined to a narrow groove, and tb^t they failed to intone 
with a healthy faith all of the articles of so small a 
symbol as the Apostles' Creed. 

When Dr. Schaff came to Mercersburg in 1844 he 
seemed to be surprised at our neglect of the Church 
Festivals. He looked at us probably in some measure 



COLLEGE LIFE 167 

in the same way as we were accustomed to look upon 
the Germans — some of them — for their style of keeping 
the Lord^s Day. He could not understand why it was 
that so little account was made of Good Friday. When 
it came around he insisted that it should be observed in 
some solemn w^ay in the institutions, to which we all 
assented, as we agreed with him in theory. He was 
most eloquent in his discourse on the day when it came^ 
which was probably the first Good Friday that had ever 
been observed in Mercersburg. — He greatly revived our 
drooping faith, and did much to restore the credit of the 
Holy Days in our American churches. 

The period of college history, which we are here 
considering, was a formative one. The religious life 
which lay at its foundation was vigorous enough, but it 
had not yet asserted its character and was still chaotic. 
It was, however, receiving into its soil ideas, which after 
a germinating period were destined, by and by, to give 
form and strength to what appears to us now as only a 
weak and uncertain plant. 

Amusements. — At the beginning, College Life seemed 
to be a long period of time, although very brief after it 
was ended ; and it would have tended to degenerate into 
a tedious monotony, a mere tread-mill, unless it could be 
relieved every now and then by diversion of some kind. 
All work and no play is deleterious to the mind no less 
than to the body. The College did not supply the stu- 



168 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

dents of that day with a gymnasium as an incentive to 
physical excercise ; but they themselves naturally found 
out the kind of recreation which they needed. The 
neighborhood around, with its mountains and valleys, 
forests and streams, prompted them to make excursions? 
in some of which they met with exciting adventures, 
that supplied them with conversation for several 
meals. Sometimes ball-playing was the recreation, and 
sometimes it was leaping or jumping, that brought 
together the largest crowd. A wrestling match would 
spring up at times spontaneously and produce the great- 
est excitement, which ended before any one could think 
ol offering a wager. But the lines were drawn at once, 
and each contestant had his friends. Usually the contest 
was regarded as exhibiting the strength of the counties 
from which the parties came, such as Bedford or North- 
ampton. At one time the honor of two great States, North 
Carolina and Pennsylvania, seemed to be involved. The 
North Carolinian representative was strong, well built, 
almost a Goliath, whilst the Pennsylvanian was smaller, 
younger, active on his feet and as quick as a flash ; but 
most of the crowd thought there could be little doubt of 
the result, and rather wished that the stripling should 
be punished for his temerity. It was, however, just 
the opposite of what was expected. By a sly trip and a 
push the strapper was hurled almost out of the ring, and 
it was feared that he was hurt. But as he fell he meas- 



COLLEGE LIFE 169 

ured the ground with his full length and suffered no 
harm from the moist soil, not even a scratch. He arose 
very leisurely, quite at a loss to know how such a thing 
could have taken place. 

In the Summer season, as one party after another re- 
turned from their evening^s walk, the crowd on the steps 
of the portico sometimes increased in dimensions to hear 
an animated discussion. Temperance and Slavery had 
become thread-bare, and now it was a warm dispute on 
some point in Ethics, Aesthetics, Political Science, or 
Philosophy in general. A philosophical spirit came to 
pervade the institutions, as the result of Dr. Ranches 
lectures, and even Sophomores took part in such debates. 
Freshnaen and PreparatoTians usually looked on and 
quietly listened, wondering perhaps whether they would 
ever be able to talk so learnedly. These discussions, or 
trials of intellectual strength, had a beneficial effect on 
all concerned. They helped to bring together the two 
classes of students, the secular and religious, who stood 
too far apart, and enabled them to get nearer together, 
on common j)hilosophic ground. The result, perhaps, 
was as beneficial to the one as it was to the other. 

Anniversaries, — After the Literary Contests were 
tabooed by the faculty as of no use, there was an interval 
of several years, during which the Societies had no op- 
portunity to win any laurels, and it began to be felt that 
something was needed to make up for the loss of these 
12 



170 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

public contests. One of the Societies got up an Anni- 
versary which it celebrated in Mid-Summer, on the 4th 
of July ; the other held its Exhibition near the close of 
the year. Both brought out their best speakers, writers, 
debaters, or poets ; and the rivalry was mostly between 
the candidates for these honors in the Societies them- 
selves. But youthful memories are sharp, and six 
months were not too far apart to institute comparisons 
between the performances of the two parties. — The 
occasions were full of interest. Each Society appeared 
with its badges, following a Brass Band, and walked 
proudly in procession to the church, where they were 
greeted with large and enthusiastic audiences. 

Commencement Days. — Commencements — days that 
commenced the bachelor life of the graduates and ended 
the college year — were the grand festivals in our college 
life. At Mercersburg they excited a wide spread inter- 
est in all the surrounding country, and strangers from 
far and near attended them. At such times everybody 
seemed to be cheerful, except the Faculty, who appeared 
to look graver then than at other times. The band es- 
corted us to the church under the direction of a Chief 
Marshall, and all went merry as a marriage bell, until 
the Y^l^^ictorian in befitting words called up the Past 
and pointed us to the stern realities of the Future. The 
festivities thus ended with chastened feelings, and some 
proper sense of the dignity and earnestness of life. 



COLLEGE LIFE 171 

Literary Addresses, — An interesting feature on these 
occasions was the Literary Address, usually delivered by 
some distinguished individual from abroad. The speaker 
had to bring with him reputation in the republic of let- 
ters. No ordinary person was thought of as able to meet 
the demands of the occasion, and the best speakers that 
could be had were secured. It was an honor that was 
highly appreciated by distinguished scholars and speak- 
ers of the times. Everett, Webster, Frelinghuysen and 
Wirt did not consider it beneath their dignity to grace 
Commencement Days with some of their best produc- 
tions. The Societies of Marshall College were success- 
ful in securing men of eminence to address them, who 
prepared for their benefit graceful and beautiful ora- 
tions. The address of Joseph R. Chandler, of Phila- 
delphia, in 1839, was a truly literary and highly pol- 
ished production. That of Albert Barnes on the "Pro- 
gress and Tendencies of Science^' was scholarly and full 
of thought ; but it was severely criticised by those who 
understood its general drift. Even some of the students 
objected to it, and doubted whether it was a good ad- 
dress. One objection was that it had been delivered 
once before at Yale College ; and another, that it seemed 
to borrow too much from Macauley^s great article on 
Lord Bacon ; but the real objection, no doubt, was that it 
was conceived too much in the spirit of the Mate- 
rialistic Philosophy over against the Idealistic School of 



172 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Plato and the modern Germans. Already at that early 
day the students at Mercersburg had some idea of their 
position in the philosophic world. Dr. Ranch was not 
altogether satisfied with the views of his friend, Mr. 
Barnes, but they chatted and talked together pleasantly, 
each one from his own standpoint. Mr. B. was familiar 
with English Literature, but he probably had only a 
vague conception of what the Germans had achieved in 
the sphere of thought. 

Vacations. — The Vacations were of course bright 
spots in College history, and were always anticipated with 
pleasing expectations. There were two of them ; one 
in the Spring and the other in the Fall, each six weeks 
in length. It would be difficult to say which of the 
two had the greater attractions. After the long Winter 
Term of twenty-two weeks, the opening of Spring 
brought us out of our winter quarters, and tended to 
abate our interest in books and recitations. Nature de- 
manded relaxation, and College law gave us the respite 
of a long vacation. After we had endured the burden 
of the Summer's heat in hard work until Commence- 
ment in September, we were again just as happy to get 
another period of rest, when the other pleasant season 
of the year — " in its sere and yellow leaf — spread out 
before us. 

Most of the students returned home to see their 
friends ; some went out as colporteurs, Bible agents, or 



COLLEGE LIFE 173 

teachers ; and others, who lived at greater distances or 
were anxious to continue their literary work, remained 
behind. These latter had free access to the libraries, 
became great readers, and spent their recess generally 
in a most profitable way. Thus when they went home 
in a year or two, they had so much the more to tell and 
hear. 

The Alumni Association. — This Association was 
started in 1841, when the College had only twenty-three 
alumni. Its yearly meetings, held ever since, have 
been characterized by fraternal affection and warm in- 
terest in our Alma Mater. The Alumni address became 
a prominent feature of the exercises of Commencement. 
The first of the kind was delivered by the Rev. E. V. 
Gerhart, in 1842, who was followed by O. C. Hartley, 
Esq., in 1843; by Dr. Parker Little in 1844; by the 
Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger in 1 846 ; and by the Rev. 
Moses Kieffer and others afterwards. The addresses 
showed that the speakers were pupils of the same school, 
that they had many points of resemblance in their style 
and method of thinking, and helped to bind the mem- 
bers together in a common community of sentiment and 
thought. The one delivered in 1843 by Mr. Hartley, 
who had graduated in 1841, and had not as yet re- 
ceived his Master's Degree, was in various respects re- 
markable. His subject was "Art,'' and young as he 
was, he showed that he had profoundly mastered the 



174 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

principles of Rauch's Aesthetics, and was able to pre- 
sent and reproduce them in his own clear, forcible and 
popular style. 

This Association, as it grew in strength and num- 
bers, became very active in promoting the interests of 
the College. In 1849 it established the Mercersburg 
Review, and published it through a committee until the 
year 1857. Subsequently it undertook the establish- 
ment of a professorship in the College, in which, how- 
ever, it has up to this date been only partially successful. 

A Note. — At first the Society in the College, made up 
as it was of diverse and conflicting elements, was not by 
any means homogeneous. The tendency was towards a 
separation between the religious and the non-religious stu- 
dents, and the lines were pretty distinctly drawn. The 
latter came to be called the '' irreligious students.^^ On 
the one side were the candidates for the ministry, and 
on the other for the most part those who expected to be 
lawyers or physicians. The separation was an unnatu- 
ral one, calculated to do harm. In the course of time it 
either passed away, or the sharp points that kept up the 
division were measureably softened down. More liberal 
views on both sides, the result of our training, came to 
prevail. This was especially the case when the reli- 
gious students came to be as prominent in their classes 
as any others, which showed that Professor Smith took 
the correct view of the situation, as already intimated. 



CHAPTER VII 



The Faculty 
Professor Joseph F. Berg 
The Rev. J. F. Berg became Professor of the An- 
cient Languages in the fall of 1836, and remained about 
one year with the institution. In connection with his 
duties in the College he served as pastor of the Reformed 
congregation at Mercersburg. His pulpit eiforts were 
appreciated, and he usually drew full houses. He was 
young in years, possessed a cultured mind, and was well 
received in both departments of labor. The old stu- 
dents, who studied under him, speak favorably of him 
as a teacher. Dr. G. W. Williard, of Tiffin, Ohio, and 
Dr. G. W. Welker, of North Carolina, two of the earlier 
graduates of the College, both describe Professor Berg as 
a very genial teacher, well qualified for his position ; and 
both refer to his wit, humor and mirthfulness. So keen 
was his sense of the ridiculous that he sometimes found it 
difficult to restrain himself in class or on public occa- 
sions, when anything droll or ludicrous took place in his 
presence. Dr. Williard is responsible for the account, 
which we here give, of a scene that once occurred whilst 
he was preaching. The dogs from time immemorial had 
been accustomed to attend the church at Mercersburp* 
regularly, — until better order was established. " Profes- 



176 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

sor Berg had to stop twice in his sermon in consequence 
of the pranks of a small dog that once raced through the 
church until the patience of father King, a Methodist 
brother, could endure it no longer. At length he lifted his 
cane to punish the unruly creature, which was too quick 
for him, so that he only struck the floor with a loud 
whack, which was too much for the minister, who had to 
stop short and rub his face for some time before he 
could proceed/^ 

Professor Berg, having accepted of a call to the Race 
Street Reformed Church in Philadelphia, left Mercers- 
burg in the Fall of 1837. Subsequently after numerous 
tilts and controversies with the professors at Mercersburg, 
he too violently withdrew from the German Reformed 
Church and entered the Dutch Reformed. In the 
course of time he was elected to a professorship in the 
Reformed Seminary at New Brunswick, N. J., where 
after several years' service, not without some contro- 
versy, he died, whilst he was apparently at the height 
of his mental strength and usefulness. 

Professor Bourne. 

After the withdrawal of Professor Berg from Mer- 
cersburg, the Rev. Edward Bourne, an Episcopal cler- 
gyman, just arrived from Europe, was secured as a tem- 
porary supply to fill the vacancy. According to ac- 
counts, he possessed a stalwart frame, was a man of 



THE FACULTY 177 

marked physique, of a ruddy countenance, with sandy 
hair, and for all the world an Irishman, — one that was 
quite unsophisticated. His brogue was not unpleasant, 
and as the students came to understand him, they learned 
to love him. He drilled them well in Latin and Greek, 
and when he left, they were sorry to part with him. 
Dr. Welker, one of his students, gives the following 
account of him : 

" During the year 1836-7, Edward Bourne, M. A., 
a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and as I think, 
a deacon in the Church of England, was employed to 
assist Dr. Ranch and Prof. Budd, and teach the Latin 
and Greek Languages. He was a thorough scholar and 
a large-hearted, noble Irishman, as gentle as a child and 
as courageous as a lion. He was plain and simple in 
dress and manner. Sometimes he carried his small 
change in the pocket of his coat skirt, where, whenever 
he moved, it jingled, to the merriment of mischievous 
boys. He was a great pedestrian, and a " constitutional'^ 
of five miles into the country and back again was no 
unusual walk. He went, if I remember correctly, from 
Mercersburg to some Episcopal institution on Long 
Island, N. Y.^' 

Professor Albert Smith. 

One of the first persons to whom we were introduced 
at Mercersburg, was Professor Albert Smith. He ex- 
amined us in the Ancient Languages gently and spoke 



178 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

kind words to us. He taught the two higher classes in 
Latin and Greek, and had been on the ground about a 
year and a half. His Inaugural Address in 1838 was 
admirable in tone and gave general satisfaction to the 
friends of the College. It discusses the nature and ob- 
ject of all true education, and shows that separated from 
Religion it furnishes no security to Morality and Free- 
dom. In the introductory portion he refers to the 
thought which then — and now also — largely occupied 
the public mind, that general intelligence, the diffusion 
of knowledge and universal education were sufiBcient in 
themsQlves to perpetuate our free institutions, and up- 
hold the interests of order and morality. He quotes 
such respectable authority as Governor Everett of Mas- 
sachusetts as upholding this view of the case, and then 
goes on to prove by facts drawn from the republics of 
Greece and Rome, as well as from modern times, the utter 
untenability of the proposition, that the universal spread 
of education without religious training can in any sense 
be a panacea for moral, social or political evils. Even 
the ancient Greek philosophers rejected the position ta- 
ken by Mr. Everett, the politicians, and the philanthro- 
pists of the day. 

" The efficacy of mere knowledge,^^ says the Profes- 
sor in his address, " is greatly over-estimated. It is 
trusted, too, for results, which, if the Bible view of hu- 
man nature is the true view, or if the testimony of his- 



THE FACULTY 179 

tory may be appealed to, it certainly will never secure. 
This error of opinion ought to be corrected. This fault 
of practice ought to be amended ; for the tendencies of 
both are ruinous. By their means the public eye is 
turned away from the true and only source of national 
prosperity, and that principle, whose assiduous cultiva- 
tion can alone secure public happiness, is neglected. I 
mean the moral principle, the conscience, the religious 
sentiment of man. Our systems, therefore, are to a 
great extent misdirected. They do not accomplish the 
legitimate object of education. With here and there a 
happy exception, the same error reigns throughout. In- 
tellect is everything — all things else are nothing/^ 

The address abounds with many other sentiments of 
this character, and met with a cordial response in the 
Church, and among our American German people, who, 
although sometimes charged with prejudices against 
education, were its friends under its proper form. Pro- 
fessor Smith, therefore, was regarded as the right man 
in the right place, and as an acquisition to our institu- 
tions of learning. 

His sermons were in harmony with his address, well 
written, well digested, and contained solemn appeals to 
the heart and the conscience, no less than to the head 
and the intellect. They were listened to by the students 
with attention, and seldom failed to produce an im- 
pression. 



180 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

In correcting the compositions of the students, he 
availed himself sometimes of the opportunity thus af- 
forded to give them good advice, or to make some valua- 
ble suggestions in regard to their lives and conduct. 
Thus we remember hearing him once say that religious 
students could exert the best influence on their fellow 
students in favor of religion, by maintaining an honorable 
position in their class, and not allowing worldly young 
men to stand above them, if possible ; and that they 
were sure to dishonor their profession, if they failed to 
prepare themselves properly for their recitations. The 
remark, we thought, was worth being remembered, and so 
we here put it on record for the benefit of others as well 
as students. It involves a principle of general applica- 
tion. 

Professor Smith did not, however, and most proba- 
bly could not, fully appreciate the situation in which he 
was placed. With his age and experience he could not 
properly understand that he was in Pennsylvania and 
not in Vermont, laboring among a people and students, 
whose religious training and ideas differed in many re- 
spects from those of New England. Whilst there were 
many things in common in the two methods of think- 
ing, there were many divergences, and there must be 
some latent antagonism, which sooner or later would 
come out. This he probably came to understand, and 
so when the strain came, he withdrew from the institu- 



THE FACULTY 181 

tions. It was perhaps for the best. He was scholarly 
in his tastes and was regarded as a successful teacher. 

The Tutors. 

David Tappan Stoddard. — When the College was 
first organized at Mercersburg, the Trustees decided 
that four professors were needed to fill the different de- 
partments. After three had been secured, the funds 
were not at hand for a fourth, and it was there- 
fore considered necessary to employ a tutor for the lower 
classes in the languages. Mr. David Tappan Stoddard, 
a graduate of Yale College, a brother-in-law of Profes- 
sor Smith, was the first to fill this position. He was an 
accurate scholar, and brought with him the methods of 
teaching Latin and Greek as they prevailed at the time 
in his Alma Mater. He was somewhat aggressive, and 
sought to enforce the College rules without being a re- 
specter of persons, in which he was sustained by the 
orderly students. This brought him sometimes into 
collision with those who wished to enjoy more freedom 
of action than the laws allowed. He took a deep interest 
in the advancement of piety, and had the sympathies 
of those who were professors of religion. — Mr. Stoddard 
remained only one year in the tutorship ; afterwards he 
studied theology, and became a successful foreign mis- 
sionary in Persia. Whilst he was tutor he had enter- 
tained the students sometimes with his telescope ; and 



182 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

when he went out to the foreign field, he took it along 
with him to the East^ where in the pure air of Persia 
he used it to illustrate the wonders of astronomy to the 
Orientals, in connection with his missionary work. He 
died early, and Dr. Thompson published an interesting 
account of his life. 

Andrew S. -Young, — Mr. Young succeeded Mr. Stod- 
dard, and was our instructor in Latin and Greek. Be- 
tween the two there were marked points of contrast. 
He was backward and undemonstrative, perhaps to a 
fault. He had come from the Boeotian county of Bucks 
in Pennsylvania, from which a large portion of the 
Professors in the College and Seminary originally 
sprung. He was an excellent, pious aud upright man, 
who succeeded best in controlling the students, because 
he did not seem to be over-zealous in the matter of do- 
ing so. He discharged the duties of tutor faithfully, 
and was a diligent and patient teacher. His personality 
was such that he gained the respect of the students, and 
they generously abstained from inflicting upon him the 
numerous petty annoyances which sometimes fall to the 
lot of mere tutors in our American Colleges. 

He was the first graduate that became a teacher in 
the College, and from his time onward it began to be 
felt more and more that it ought to provide teachers for 
itself out of its own graduates. — Mr. Young subse- 
quently became Rector of the Preparatory Department, 



THE FACULTY 183 

then Principal of the Allentown High School, out of 
which Muhlenberg College grew, and afterwards served 
a pastoral charge in Northampton County, where he 
ended his earthly career, beloved and esteemed by all 
who knew him. 

Gardiner Jones. — The Rev. Gardiner Jones succeeded 
Mr. Young as tutor in the ancient languages in the Au- 
tumn of 1841. He had been a Roman Catholic, and 
had received his education in Catholic institutions of 
learning. In his youth, he said, he was an infidel, and 
had sometimes stood up and prated the most advanced 
infidel views in Tammany Hall, New York. As a re- 
action to his free-thinking he felt himself drawn towards 
the Catholic Church, as it seemed to offer something 
fixed and certain ; and he accordingly gave up his in- 
dividual opinions and submitted, as he thought, to 
an infallible authority. It was, however, not long be- 
fore he saw so much corruption and error among 
the Catholics that he determined to leave them, and 
find peace in the Protestant Church, which offered to 
him a larger area of freedom, and presented a greater 
degree of purity of life, with a better discipline. He 
came to Mercersburg, recommended by Dr. Berg and 
others as one who would be an acquisition to the faculty. 
Mr. Jones was an admirable Latin scholar, a good 
public speaker, and something of a rhetorician. But he 
was not well balanced, being either too lofty and digni- 



184 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

fied at times in the presence of the students, and at other 
times too familiar with them. His sermons were of 
unequal merit. Towards the Catholics he was intensely- 
polemical, and in his discourses he denounced the whole 
system of popery from the pope downwards as the mas- 
terpiece of Satan himself. The spirit, which seemed to 
animate his sermons, appeared to be somewhat fierce and 
savage; they were regarded as not specially edifiying to 
pious minds; but nothing was said. They excited 
some attention abroad, and one of the Chambersburg 
Elders wrote to him a friendly letter, suggesting to him 
that he had better exert himself in a positive way in 
building up the institutions and leave the Catholics 
alone, at which he took great offence, as something 
incomprehensible, and inconsistent with Protestant free- 
dom. As there was no immediate prospect that he 
would soon be elevated to the dignity of a professor's 
chair, he withdrew from the institution. Eventually, 
it is said that he went back again to the Catholic 
Church, and placed himself under the rules of some 
ascetic order, which may have been of advantage to him, 
as he showed, whilst he was with us, that he was not 
always able to control himself. 

Other Tutors. — After the withdrawal of Mr. Jones 
the office of tutor was divided, and the tutors were 
selected from the graduates of the College, there being 
several of them in active duty at the same time. From 



THE FACULTY 185 

the year 1843 to 1845, Christian R. Kessler and Max 
Stern were Tutors in German ; in Latin and Greek, 
John Cessna, Geo. D. Wolff and Theodore A ppel. Af- 
ter that, E. W. Reinecke, John S. Ermentrout and oth- 
ers enjoyed the responsibilities of tutors until the re- 
moval of the College to Lancaster, when the office of tu- 
tor practically came to an end. 

The duties of these assistant or adjunct professors 
were numerous and oftentimes difficult to discharge. In 
addition to instructing the lower classes in Horace or 
Homer, in Cicero or Demosthenes, they were expected 
to conduct prayers in the absence of the professors ; to 
preside at the table in the Refectory ; to preserve order 
about the building ; to peep into the students' rooms and 
see whether the young men were all in their rooms at 
nine o'clock at night; and to report all cases of disorder 
or irregularity among the students to the faculty. Af- 
ter the new bell was put up in the cupola, they were re- 
lieved of the duty of sounding the gong or the triangle, 
and the new office of Bell-Ringer was established, which 
became famous in its day. They were required to be 
regular and punctual, always at their posts ; to stand 
firm as a rock in the maintenance of order ; in a word, 
to become a kind of break-water, over which the waves 
sometimes dashed, without, however, reaching the per- 
sons of the professors, to whom they served as a protec- 
tion. 

i;3 



186 college recollections 

Dr. Traill Green 

The addition of another professor to the faculty, in 
the Spring of 1841, was very opportune. The College 
had experienced a great loss, a severe shock by the 
death of Dr. Ranch ; and, although his place was im- 
mediately filled by Dr. Nevin, the situation of affairs 
and the prestige of the College called for something 
more : it was felt that the loss should, if possible, be 
more than made up. Providentially this was accom- 
plished by securing the services of Dr. Traill Green, of 
Easton, Pa., as Professor of the Natural Sciences. This 
was a department of study for which little or no provi- 
sion had been made in the College course. Prof. Budd 
had been teaching some chemistry without experiments, 
and Dr. Rauch had delivered a few lectures on Natural 
History, but Botany, Mineralogy, and Geology were 
not so much as mentioned in the Catalogue. This was 
a sad defect, enough to discourage and turn intelligent 
students away from the College. Of course more time 
was devoted to Mathematics, the Languages and other 
branches, which was not without its advantages. Phi- 
losophy engaged the attention of the students from the 
highest down to the lowest class, with no small amount 
of enthusiasm, it is true ; but standing thus by itself, it 
was one-sided and somewhat abnormal. Logic and 
Metaphysics are very valuable sciences in their place, 
but no person can pursue them with the proper degree of 



THE FACULTY 187 

profit, unless he is in some measure posted in Physics 
and the sciences of nature. The one is in order to the 
other, and vice-versa. All philosophy loses its proper life, 
and can show very little but the dead leaves of dry and 
barren abstractions, unless it is pursued in connection 
with a correct knowledge of nature in its diversified 
realms. Dr. Ranch was a philosopher that took this 
view of his vocation, with his heart in love with nature, 
and his keen eye open to all the new discoveries in Sci- 
ence, as assistants in throwing light upon his own favor- 
ite studies. Had he lived to see the establishment of 
the new professorship of the Natural Sciences, he would 
have hailed it with enthusiasm and sought to give it a 
free development. 

A Note. — Dr. Junkin, who after all was a friend of 
the "Dutch College,^^ and a personal friend of Dr. 
Ranch, was the means by which Dr. Green was secured 
for the College at Mercersburg. Owing to some diffi- 
culties, he withdrew from the presidency of Lafayette 
College, and Dr. Green, who was in sympathy with 
him, withdrew with him from the faculty. The former 
went to Ohio, and knowing Dr. Green's abilities, he 
suggested his name to the Reformed minister of the 
place, who suggested it to the faculty at Mercersburg, 
and the result was that he soon received an appoint- 
ment. There seemed to be something providential in 
the matter. In the discouraging condition of affairs at 
Mercersburg, it was just what was most needed. 



188 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Dr. Green had experience as a professor in Lafay- 
ette College, and was otherwise well qualified to lay a 
good foundation for the new department of knowledge 
which he was to introduce into the College course. He 
was himself an enthusiastic admirer of nature and soon 
communicated his enthusiasm to the students. His In- 
augural address was a model of its kind, and his occa- 
sional special lectures to the students were well calcu- 
lated to inspire them with a love of the Science of na- 
ture. 

When he entered upon the discharge of his duties, 
the College had no museum or other helps, probably not 
a single mineral, and a very slender apparatus for his 
use. He brought with him his own fine collection of 
minerals, and furnished himself with a valuable supply 
of geological specimens. An old air-pump and an elec- 
trical machine were about all that he could find for the 
department of chemistry. But he improvised for him- 
self, without much expense, apparatus of his own, using 
old tumblers, tubes, jars, dishes, or whatever else he could 
lay his hands on that would serve his purpose. His 
experiments in chemistry were ample and of the most 
interesting character. Probably few institutions at the 
time supplied their students with as much instruction, 
or as satisfactory experiments in this department. It 
was teaching chemistry, however, under difficulties. 

Botany, Mineralogy and Geology were taught in the 



THE FACULTY 189 

fields or out in the mountains as well as in the class- 
room. All the limestone caves in the surrounding 
country, of ^hich few persons had any knowledge, were 
searched out, and had to be explored, often requiring us 
to squeeze ourselves through narrow passages on all- 
fours, thus affording us an opportunity to study nature — 
and also to inscribe our names in some grand hall on the 
other side, with the smoke of our candles. Covered 
with mire from head to foot we marched through the 
village, following our professor in advance, with rather 
a feeling of pride than otherwise. We were in the ser- 
vice of Science. 

Botany, revealing to us the mysteries of the vege- 
table creation, opened to us a new world of wonders. 
Some of us did not know that it was, or could be, a 
science at all ; but we soon learned better. There we 
found living, concrete genera and species, which we had 
regarded, perhaps, as mere dead abstractions, when we 
met with them in books or heard of them in lectures. 
The day set apart for a botanical excursion — once a 
week — was well spent with a professor whose face was 
as radiant as nature herself, who was ever on the alert 
to spur us up. in our laudable pursuits, chiding only 
mildly our ^^dull delays." — The love of science penetra- 
ted the Seminary, and some of the theologians, who had 
not enjoyed these advantages when in College, usually 
accompanied the class on such excursions. 



190 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

A Note. — The professor never told the students too 
much nor too little, and with Mrs. Lincoln's Botany 
before them, he expected them to identify the flower 
and tell its species. It was an honor to be the first to 
repeat its name. A theologian, who was noted for being 
more grave and dignified than the rest of his cloth, one 
day carried away the palm from the sophomores, and was 
quite sure that he had found out the name of the flower. 
It was an anemone, but unfortunately with great vim he 
pronounced the last two syllables as one, as in the word 
one. It showed how sadly our graduates needed a 
knowledge of science no less than of flowers and com- 
mon things. 

In these excursions we explored the heights as well 
as the depths of nature. Once we ascended to the top 
of the North Mountain. In our descent we encountered 
a large rattlesnake sunning himself on a rock. As it 
was early in the Spring of the year, he was still some- 
what torpid and was soon dispatched, as we thought. 
The professor carried him home in a handkerchief under 
his arm, but when he opened his bundle his snakeship 
crawled out across the room, leisurely, as if on his way 
to the mountain to hide himself. It was a marvellous 
escape and reminded the writer of St. Paul on the 
island of Malta. He was soon placed in alcohol and 
kept for future use. 

Mount Parnell also had to be ascended, which was 



THE FACULTY 191 

no ordinary achievement; but it brought with it its 
own reward, in the magnificent view which it afforded 
of the great Cumberland Valley, from Virginia in the 
South up towards Harrisburg in the North-East. It is 
said that a German farmer from below, who had been 
successful in adding acre to acre and farm to farm, 
whose love for getting and keeping had grown stronger 
as old age advanced upon him, once stood on this eleva- 
ted ground, and looking over the valley sighed and 
expressed an ardent desire to possess all this rich land 
as his own farm. When the students went up there they 
were encouraged by their teacher not to be unduly 
sesthetical nor acquisitive, but were led to a never-fail- 
ing spring of fresh water, and asked how the water got 
there. This of course led to the scientific point of view, 
and opened up many geological questions for discussion. 
From these mountain heights, on the other side, we had 
also sublime views of mountains, valleys, ravines, syn- 
clinal knobs, mountain spurs and gaps in the greatest 
variety, as far as the eye could reach. One valley passes 
over into another with its water course, and the whole 
scene was one of weird grandeur. Time did not permit 
us to make any very exclusive geological surveys ; but, 
if we had encamped there, in those wild recesses of nature, 
for a week or more during the summer months and made 
explorations, it would have increased our stock of knowl- 
edge as well as made us so much the more robust and 
strong. 



192 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

It must here be added that Dr. Green was a sincere 
and earnest Christian, a diligent student of the Bible, 
and active in all movements to promote the spiritual 
interests of the students. He was always present at 
church, at prayers and at prayer-meetings. For a time 
he was Superintendent of the Sunday-school in the old 
Reformed Church and as such was a model officer. 
During the week he held a Bible Class for the benefit 
of the teachers, so that they might be properly prepared 
for the lesson of the coming Sabbath. The biblical 
knowledge here acquired, from week to week, whether 
for upe or edification, w^as highly valuable. 

Our professor, of course, was a Christian Scientist. 
He saw no conflict between Science and the Bible. In 
his estimation the contradictions were imaginary, simply 
the opinions of narrow-minded interpreters, which a 
deeper study of the volume of nature and of that of 
divine revelation must always set aside as gratuitous. 

And then he was also a regular bred physician of the 
University of Pennsylvania, and delivered lectures on 
Anatomy and Physiology, such as no College in the 
land enjoyed at the time, unless it was Amherst in Mas- 
sachusetts. In his lectures on the human frame he 
availed himself of his opportunities to give his students 
useful lessons for the preservation of health. He was 
uncompromising in his denunciations of strong drinks, 
and showed in various ways that they were deleterious 



THE FACULTY 193 

to the human body, with its fine tissues and nice ar- 
rangement of organs, all of which must suffer from the 
presence of poison in the system. From the same 
physiological point of view, he discouraged the use of 
tobacco under its various forms. The students for the 
most part, however, sat and listened to this advice, per- 
haps as stolidly as the Dutch burgers on Manhattan 
Island did when their Governor lectured them for their 
excessive smoking. They continued to smoke on. But 
we happen to know of one of his students who con- 
tinued to smoke for about forty years afterwards, and 
then growing wiser gave up this strange habit, avowing 
ever since that even his tardy abstinence has had a 
beneficial effect on his general health. 

Dr. Green possessed a clear and fluent style of writ- 
ing, but seldom allowed his vigorous thoughts to ap- 
pear in print. His Inaugural, with which everybody 
was pleased, was never published, and we now miss it 
as we look over the history and records of the olden 
times. We here give his letter of resignation handed 
to the Board of Trustees, March 21, 1848 : 

"Called to change my residence in September next, 
I feel it to be my duty to offer at your present meeting 
my resignation (to take place at the close of the next 
session) of the chair of Natural Science in Marshall 
College, which it has been my pleasure to occupy under 
your government for the past seven years. I feel under 



194 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

many obligations to the officers of the Institution for 
their uniform kindness during the period through which 
our intercourse has continued, and have only to regret 
that the want of suitable apartments and apparatus has 
made it necessary for me to seek employment in another 
sphere of labor. I need not say that no trifling cause 
could have induced me to sever a connection that has 
existed so long, and which has proved so constantly 
agreeable. I shall carry with me to my new home 
recollections of agreeable associations in Marshall Col- 
lege, and as far as it may be in my power, seek to aid 
you in building up the Institution over which you 
preside.^' 

After Dr. Green returned to Easton, he resumed the 
practice of medicine, in which he has attained to a high 
rank ; but subsequently he once more became connected 
with Lafayette College as Professor of Chemistry. Here 
again he had to encounter the old difficulty of a want of 
apparatus, which in due time, however, was remedied 
by the erection of Chemistry Hall, the gift of Mr. Jenks 
of Philadelphia, for his encouragement and use. He 
had interested himself in securing an Astronomical Ob- 
servatory for the use of the College, contributing largely 
for it, out of his own resources. After that was accom- 
plished he had the pleasure of seeing another Hall go up 
by private liberality for his own department, with all 
the apparatus in it necessary to elucidate the principles 
of his favorite science. 



the faculty 195 

Professor William M. Nevin 

Professor Nevin is of Scotch Irish ancestry, born in 
Franklin County, Pa., and a graduate of Dickinson 
College at Carlisle. After he had received his Bachel- 
or's degree, he commenced the study of medicine, but 
as this did not prove agreeable to his taste, he turned 
his attention to law. Having finished a course of legal 
studies, he was admitted to the bar. Finding, however, 
that the legal profession was no more agreeable to him 
than medicine, he tried the profession of teaching, and 
finding it congenial with his feelings, he devoted the 
remainder of his life to its duties as his proper calling. 
He taught for a season a classical school in Michigan, 
and then for a while one in the western part of his own 
State, from which he was called to fill the chair occupied 
by Professor Smith as Professor of Languages and 
Belles-Lettres in Marshall College, in the Fall of 1841. 
In connection with his schools he had already begun to 
write characteristic articles for various periodicals, which 
showed the particular bent of his genius. 

After his call to Mercersburg, he soon learned to 
understand the bearings and drift of the College, and to 
see that, although struggling for an existence at the 
time, it had a status of its own and a future before it. 
In full sympathy with its objects and purposes, he iden- 
tified himself with it in all its relations and bearings, 
connected himself with the Church for which it was 



196 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

established, and regarded himself in his own particular 
sphere of labor as one of the humble workers and sup- 
porters of a great and noble cause. For over forty-five 
years he has remained at his post, and for the greater 
part of the time performed the work which now falls to 
the lot of several professors. Usually he had more 
recitations to attend to during the week than fell to the 
lot of his colleagues. He taught both Latin and Greek, 
and was also Professor of the Humanities. 

To a classical scholar it is, as a matter of course, one 
of the keenest of pleasures to pore over the pages of the 
ancient classics ; and so it would also be to teach them 
to others, if students were always properly prepared to 
appreciate the higher instructions of a classical course. 
But this was not always the case in Marshall College, 
just as we presume it was not the case in other Colleges 
at that time. Few students were prepared as they should 
be for the Freshman Class, and it used to be, and may 
be still, the ungrateful toil of a professor of the an- 
cient languages to engage in the mere elementary work 
of training and drilling, in order that the student might 
be able to make up for the defects of his preparatory 
course. What then becomes of the flowery vales of 
literature, of " Virgil's lay or Livy's pictured page,^' 
when so much drilling is required before the professor 
can lead his students through the forest of bristling stems 
and roots in the grammar into the pleasant country 
beyond ? 



THE FACULTY 197 

But these were only a part of the drawbacks to a 
professor's occupying an easy chair or reclining on a bed 
of roses. The style of speaking among students of our 
Colleges generally is too mechanical and unnatural, 
highly declamatory, often running into a mere sing-song, 
regardless of emphasis or graceful modulation of the 
voice, and usually ending the sentence with a circumflex 
or rising inflexion, w^hen it should be a falling one, a 
natural and easy descent as in ordinary conversation. 
But in the College at Mercersburg — as we presume was 
the case at Gettysburg also — there were difficulties to be 
overcome that were peculiar, owing mostly to the early 
training of the students themselves. The principle of 
these consisted in the pronunciation which they had 
brought with them from their homes. The brogue of 
some foreigners has a certain flavor about it, but the 
Pennsylvania brogue has nothing of the kind, and is the 
most offensive, where it is not amusing, to the English 
ear. It curiously confounds the b with the p, the d 
with the ^, the v with the Wy and the g and j with ch or 
sh. If the reader will make the last mentioned change 
in the word General Jackson, he will be amused : if in 
a hallowed name, his most reverential feelings will be 
wounded and offended. Of all other kinds of speech 
this Pennsylvania brogue is probably the most difficult 
to eradicate. It has its seat in the vocal organs, and it 
requires heroic treatment to overcome it. Only a few, 



198 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

with whom we have met, have had the courage and per- 
severance to attack it in its seat and tear it up by the 
roots, among whom we recognize one or more of the 
Lancaster professors. 

Professor Nevin, therefore, had before him a most 
difficult, a real Augean work to perform ; but he was 
fitted for the emergency. As a good English scholar 
he could pronounce in sweet, euphoneous English ; and 
he was, moreover, a good reader, of which there are so 
few, always putting the accent, the emphasis and the 
inflexions in the right place. In this he excelled many 
speakers who could make much more sound than he 
could. Judging from some of his efforts to bring out 
the true sense of an author by his correct reading, es- 
pecially from the way he used to render the more diffi- 
cult parts of Terence, we believe that he would have 
been successful in the histrionic art, more particularly 
in comedy. Gentle and generous as a critic, he enforced 
his precepts by his own example as a writer. All of 
his compositions, whether in poetry, prose or dialogue, 
were finished productions, and examples of a pure Eng- 
lish style, in which something of Irving or Goldsmith 
may be noticed. They abound in purity of language, 
in elevation of sentiment, in clearness of argument, com- 
bined with flashes of humor, which Cicero regarded as 
essential to an oration, and in a certain happy and natu- 
ral arrangement of his thoughts. 



THE FACULTY 199 

Some living authority of this kind in matters per- 
taining to "English undefiled^^ is a matter of the great- 
est importance in our higher institutions of learning, and 
nowhere was it more so than at Mercersburg, — when 
the material which was to be shaped and polished, is 
taken into consideration. Complete success in such an 
Herculean undertaking could hardly be expected. But 
if any of the graduates of Marshall, or of Franklin and 
Marshall College, retain any of their old faults ; if they 
use German instead of pure English idioms ; if they 
still employ the technical words of the class-room, or a 
scientific nomenclature, when they address popular au- 
diences ; if they do not use the right inflexions and the 
natural tones of the human voice in speaking ; in fine, 
if they are declamatory, monotonous, or retain a sing- 
song or pulpit tone, when they speak, and are not easy, 
natural and forcible speakers, then, as it seems to us, 
there are few of them who would be disposed to ascribe 
their faults to their College training or to their profes- 
sor of the Humanities. And further, if any of them 
have forgotten all that they ever knew of the Latin or 
the Greek, and find it difficult to read their Greek Tes- 
taments with ease, then, as we believe, they will not at- 
tribute it to their Professor of Languages. 

A professor of Belles-Lettres, if not an artist him- 
self, ought to be at least a lover of art and understand 
the nature and fundamental principles of all true art. 



200 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

We give the following extract from one of the profes- 
sor^s published articles, of which there have been too 
few, showing the connection of Art with Religion and 
Morality, in his own language : 

"In Germany, on the Sabbath, when the bells have 
cfeased their chiming, those peals of music, some of them 
having been started into melody by Mozart or Beetho- 
ven, could not, one would suppose, swell so solemnly 
and thrillingly as they do, from the churches ; and on 
week-days, of an evening, when the sun has left his 
blush on the clouds, ere darkness has closed around, 
those tones produced by the laborer^s iflute, accompanied 
by the voices of his wife and daughters, could certainly 
not float abroad so sweetly as they do from almost every 
cottage in the country, if the hearts of the populace at 
large were not endowed with the warmest religious and 
social aifections. So of England also, though in the 
arts perhaps surpassed by both Germany and France. 
Should any person, unacquainted with her history, be 
permitted to look on the tasteful works of Sculpture that 
set off the interior of her Minsters, and those splendid 
collections of paintings that adorn the mansions of her 
nobles, and especially should he be drawn still further 
onward to wander over the country by observing the 
marks of taste, in her landscape gardening everywhere 
exhibited, he surely could not help inferring that her 
people were happy on account of their morality/' 



THE FACULTY 201 

Professor Nevin always seemed to understand his 
special work in the College, which required him to look 
after the form, or aesthetic side, of things, and not so 
much at their philosophy, which he left in the hands of 
others whose duty it was to speak out. In his depart- 
ment, therefore, he became an authority or arbiter that 
was always respected. In the selection of the proper 
person to represent the College at Commencement, in 
the Valedictory, he was always a safe guide, and the 
faculty seldom erred, except when they failed to follow 
his judgment. — Yet in all the theological and philo- 
sophical discussions in which his colleagues became en- 
gaged, he was an interested spectator, an attentive lis- 
tener, and a careful reader. His judgment, largely in- 
tuitional, enabled him at once to point out who had the 
right side, and where the truth lay. His opinion, there- 
fore, was so much the more valuable, because it was cool 
and seldom one-sided. Extremes, which are for the 
most part the result of passion or mere arbitrariness, 
presented to his mind their grotesque or ludicrous char- 
acter; and, as legitimate subjects for his playful humor 
or wit, supplied in themselves the matter for their own 
most successful refutation. 

Confining himself to his own chosen line of duty, to 

which he devoted his undivided energies, moderate in 

all things, regular in his habits, year in and year out. 

Professor Nevin, with a physical constitution at no time 

It 



202 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

vigorous, has lived to see the eightieth mile-stone of his 
age, the Nestor of the faculty, honored and esteemed by 
all who know him. Some years ago the Doctorate of 
Laws was conferred on him by his Alma Mater at Car- 
lisle ; but his title of Professor had become so fixed in 
the minds of his friends that he is seldom called Doctor. 

Professor Budd. 

Mr. Samuel W. Budd, Jr., taught us in Mathemat- 
ics, Mechanical Philosophy and Astronomy. He was 
originally intended for the study of the law, but his 
physical strength and feeble voice, no less than his natu- 
ral timidity, led him to shrink from the contentions of 
the bar .and to devote himself to the profession of teach- 
ing. After some practice, he was selected as one of the 
professors in the High School at York, in 1833, where 
he became the congenial friend of Dr. Ranch, and ren- 
dered valuable services in elevating the character of the 
School. As a graduate of Princeton College, of high 
standing, he naturally sought to impress upon the in- 
stitution a collegiate character, so that when the change 
was made at Mercersburg from the High School to the 
College, there was no difficulty in arranging the stu- 
dents into College classes, and at an early day the first 
class was graduated. 

The general plan of college studies was taken from 
Princeton College, and the code of College Laws, the 



THE FACULTY 203 

work of Prof. Budd, was derived from the same con- 
servative source. They embodied the combined wis- 
dom of the past and present history of College govern- 
ment. Accordingly, they required studious habits, or- 
derly conduct and proper respect for the officers of the 
institution ; emphasized a strict attention to all College 
regulations in regard to study hours and religious ser- 
vices ; and forbade all kinds of gambling, entering tav- 
erns, theatres or other places of dissipation, especially 
where strong drinks could be obtained. Drinking it- 
self was not literally forbidden, but the student was so 
hedged in by rules that he could not easily get a drink 
of liquor without violating one of them. The smug- 
gling of any intoxicating drink into a student's room 
was a punishable offence. In such a place liquor was 
a contraband article and could be confiscated. No stu- 
dent was allowed to be out of his room during study 
hours, or to be absent from town without the permission 
of some officer of the College. Such rules as these were 
salutary, not Draconic, allowing the student a full meas- 
ure of liberty, which of course always had to be bounded 
by law, else there could have been no true freedom or 
liberty at all. The rule requiring the student to be in 
his room at an early hour in the evening was an impor- 
tant one, and Prof. Budd obeyed it himself whilst he 
roomed in the building, and required all alike strictly 
to adhere to it. Occasionally he varied from it very 



204 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

slightly, when he and Dr. Ranch conversed a little 
while at the '^style/^ before they separated for the night. 
Bnt it served a good purpose, as it reminded tardy stu- 
dents of their mistake, and gave them an opportunity to 
apologize. 

Professor Budd hailed from a respectable family of 
Friends, in New Jersey, and was the soul of good order 
and correct morality. He was, therefore, well qualified 
to be a good law-maker. He was a model gentleman, 
and the exemplification of a correct, moral life. This, 
coupled with a pleasant native dignity, gave him great 
force of character, and made him a moral power in the 
institution, which it was difficult to resist. It was al- 
ways interesting to see how he was felt when he entered 
the Refectory, or the recitation room, or quickly passed 
along through the corridors. It was also surprising to 
see him, a slender and apparently weak individual, en- 
counter a crowd of noisy, boisterous students — some of 
them large and muscular — violating the College laws 
by their unnecessary noise and uncalled for demonstra- 
tiveness. The uproar at once subsided, the leaders be- 
came quiet listeners, and all dispersed to their rooms at 
the gentle command of their professor. He seldom re- 
buked any one, but when he did so, it was at the right 
time, and it was always felt. He never spoke except 
in gentle and soft tones of voice. 

Professor Budd varied somewhat from the mathemat- 



THE FACULTY 205 

ical course pursued at Princeton, where Hutton's Mathe- 
matics still continued to be the text book. In its place 
he substituted the Cambridge Course of which Professor 
John Farrar was the author, commencing with Trigo- 
nometry and ending with Astronomy. They were admir- 
able treatises, clear, concise, perspicuous, and written 
with good taste. But here the same difficulty occurred 
as in the classical department. Most of the students 
were not qualified by their previous training in mathe- 
matics to appreciate or even to understand properly 
these books. Had they been previously better exercised 
in arithmetic and the more practical branches, they would 
have understood their lessons much better, and have 
imbibed a much stronger affection for their mathematics. 
Physics was mostly mathematical, and Astronomy in 
such books as Gummere's, Norton^s, or Bartlett^s, was 
not especially attractive to the imaginative minds of 
young men, who are as yet more interested in the con- 
creteness than the abstract nature of things. Some 
knowledge of the Geography of the Heavens and De- 
scriptive Astronomy arouses interest in the stars, and is 
an incentive to young persons to study the laws which 
control them. . A peep even through a small telescope 
at the moon or the planets excites attention ; but much 
more must this be the case when students can look 
through a large Refractor. An Astronomical Observa- 
tory was not thought of in those days, when so many 



206 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

other things were needed, and Astronomy, the sublinaest 
of all the sciences, had to abide its time. It, however, 
gradually asserted its claims, until its voice was heard in 
the liberal donation of Mrs. Hood of Frederick, Mary- 
land, for the erection of a fine Observatory at Lancaster. 

Professor Budd doubtless sometimes felt sad when 
he had to drill Juniors or even Seniors in the mathe- 
matics, that ought to have been mastered in the Prepar- 
atory Department ; but he seemed to be refreshed in 
spirit when he encountered pupils who were posted 
and were qualified to derive the full benefit of their 
mathematical studies. His time was at their command, 
and it ever afforded him pleasure to give such persons 
private instruction in those branches which could not 
be included in the legular course, such as Descriptive 
Geometry and Perspective. In this kind of work he 
was always willing to spend much of his time, and he 
never grew weary in making laborious calculations for 
his young friends when their strength failed them. 

Professor Budd was the master of a neat and hand- 
some style of writing, although he seldom appeared in 
print. Had he essayed to publish a course of mathe- 
matics, as other professors have done, he would have 
presented his matter in a clear and concise style, with 
refined taste, and assisted students materially in compre- 
hending abstruse subjects, which are rendered more 
difficult to understand by a clumsy style and manner of 



THE FACULTY 207 

presenting them to the reader. On one occasion he was not 
satisfied with the manner in which the science of Acous- 
tics was presented in the books, and he accordingly 
wrote out for his class a series of articles, which were 
published weekly in the Messenger. They form a small 
but elegant treatise on the subject. 

The following extract which we select from an 
address, which he delivered to the students on a public 
occasion, may serve as a specimen of his style and show 
the spirit of the man : 

"Gentlemen, there is only one more thought to 
which I would direct your attention, that you should 
guard yourselves against too much fearfulness in receiv- 
ing scientific facts which appear to contradict certain 
passages in the Scriptures of Truth. We should remem- 
ber that the Bible is not a revelation of science, but a 
revelation of practical religion and morals. Whoever 
has studied the systems which have sprung from the 
efforts of men to find a principle of morality, from rea- 
son and nature, must have been struck with their signal 
failure. No principle, which does not refer itself event- 
ually to the will of God has been able to stand the 
objections of reason itself, and the vain attempts to 
discover His will independently result in the conviction, 
as a scientific conclusion, that without a revelation we 
can have no sure criterion of right and wrong. — There 
could be no greater triumph against the foes of Christ- 



208 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

ianity than this ! But on the other hand, those who 
appeal to the Bible for support in their scientific specu- 
lations may find much to embarrass and little to aid 
them. It is doubtful, to say the least, whether the 
sacred historians contemplated even any of the theologi- 
cal questions which are forever in agitation, and cer- 
tainly nothing seems more evident that the ordinary 
phenomena of nature were spoken of according to the 
popular notion of the times. It was a spectacle, dis- 
graceful to the Church, when the great Galileo, at the 
venerable age of seventy, was compelled to swear on his 
knees that he detested and recanted the heresy of the 
movement of the earth, a truth which he had clearly 
demonstrated, and which no one now thinks as contra- 
dictory to revelation. The hypothesis of Laplace has 
been too severely viewed by some friends of the Bible, 
and some of the facts which geologists have brought to 
light, and which cannot be reconciled with the letter of 
inspired history, threw the study of Geology into tem- 
porary discredit. But let us hope that this day is past, 
and trusting that the God of Revelation and the God of 
Nature are one, let us look without dismay upon the 
labors of men whose discoveries shall all be made to 
redound to His glory, and the discomfiture of the 
enemies of truth.^^ 

Mr. Budd, as he was usually called, lived some four 
or five years after the death of Dr. Ranch, and like him 



THE FACULTY 209 

died at his post, a comparatively young man. They 
did their work well, laid good foundations for others to 
build on, and were true to their vows, to stand or fall 
with the cause which they had espoused. 

DocTOK Rauch. 

In Germany, — Doctor Frederick Augustus Rauch, 
the first President of Marshall College, was born at 
Kirchbracht, in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, July 27, 
1806. His father was a Reformed minister in the Ev- 
angelical Church, with which he fully sympathized, and 
served a parish in the neighborhood of Frankfort-on- 
the-Main. Having completed a preparatory course in 
the gymnasium, he continued his studies, first in the 
University at Marburg, where he took his diploma in 
1827, and then afterwards at Giessen and Heidelberg. 
Together with philosophy and other branches of a philo- 
sophical course, he studied theology, especially at Hei- 
delberg under Professor Daub ; but whether it was his 
intention to take upon himself the practical duties of the 
ministry does not appear. Most probably it was his 
purpose to enter upon an academic career, and to make 
teaching his profession. Having lectured for a while at 
Giessen, he was appointed to a professorship in the Uni- 
versity of Heidelberg, which was no doubt a position in 
harmony with his aspirations and feelings, where he 
would have been satisfied to spend his life, amidst con- 



210 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

genial friends, on the banks of the Neckar, in the pur- 
suit of science and philosophy. But Providence had 
ordered that it should be otherwise, and had marked 
out for him a different destiny. 

An Exile, — On some public occasion he had ex- 
pressed himself too freely on the subject of politics, and 
he fell under the displeasure of a government, that was 
very sensitive. Apprehensive of imprisonment or some 
kind of public disgrace, he concluded to flee, as Jacob 
did from the face of Esau. On the morrow, he was 
told, he might fall into the hands of the law. He had 
only two hours to spare, when he was to part with his 
nearest and best friends forever ; and it was after mid- 
night. The father was bathed in tears over the sad lot 
of unser lieber Fritz, but the noble conduct of his son 
encouraged his heart in this dark hour of trial. There 
in the presence of that father he vowed that if God 
would keep him on his journey, he would serve Him 
faithfully in America all his days. Thus in the still 
hours of the night he turned his face towards this wes- 
tern world, without any prospect of ever seeing his na- 
tive land again. 

His Appearance. — When we saw him at Mercers- 
burg, eight years after his flight, he had lost his hair, 
and in other respects looked more like a man of 50 
than one of 33 years of age. The likenesses which 
we have of him, copies of the one that was taken after 



THE FACULTY 211 

his death, are growing worse and worse. His face and 
head were purely German in shape, his forehead promi- 
nent and his backhead retreating, just the opposite of 
what is seen in these likenesses. He resembled some- 
what the pictures that we have of Schleiermacher, only 
his features were rounder, less angular and showed more 
feeling and imagination. In certain respects he may be 
said to have looked like some of our older German min- 
isters in Pennsylvania. He had taxed his physical en- 
ergies in the High School at York and gave himself no 
abatement of labor in the College at Mercersburg ; he 
had, moreover, tasted the bitter cup of sorrow; the 
wrinkles in his face were marked ; and there was already 
about him the appearance of exhaustion, and the symp- 
toms of an early decline. His eyes, however, were 
bright and moved about in their orbits with the rapidity 
of his own thoughts. 

Sometimes students, especially such as are the most 
verdant and least experienced, when they come to Col- 
lege, have their doubts of the abilities of their professors, 
and are disposed to watch them closely, until they are 
convinced that they are competent for their places. As 
Dr. Ranch criticised our American text-books rather 
freely, and at times also our philosophy or reigning 
modes of thinking, he excited at first some opposition of 
feeling. The question at least suggested itself whether 
he, a foreigner, could teach us anything better. But 



212 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

such scepticism gradually wore oflF as we became better 
acquainted with him. 

His Lectures, — One of the recent graduates of the 
College having died in the Seminary at Princeton, Dr. 
Ranch instituted a course of lectures on the Gospel of 
St. John on Thursday evening, as the most befitting 
tribute which he could render to his memory. They 
were practical and edifying in their tendency, and 
showed what a deep knowledge the lecturer had of the 
Scriptures. At another time he delivered lectures on 
Natural History, in which he opened up to our view 
the world of infusorial life as the foundation of Anima- 
ted Nature. It took him a long time before he got over 
the ground, and just as long to finish the subject of spi- 
ders, bees and ants. The lectures were interesting and in- 
structive, and threw Goldsmith, Godwin and even Buf- 
fon into the shade. — In German he heard the class recite 
in Schiller^s Thirty Years' War. As the history was 
somewhat philosophical, it gave him an opportunity to 
explain the true nature of all history as a development or 
growth^ and not a mere collection of facts, which was also 
something new to us, — and at the same time, no doubt, 
to many other persons in this country. 

But it was more particularly in Greek that Dr. 
Eauch showed his superior knowledge. We thought 
we certainly knew something of the Greek Grammar : 
in fact, we knew all of its rules, and also how to apply 



THE FACULTY 213 

them. But our old Greek Grammars, like WettenhalFs 
and Goodrich's, were all mechanical, and such also was 
our knowledge. We did not understand the reason of 
the rules, did not know that there was any, and took 
them for ultimate facts. Our teacher, however, brought 
us out of this state of ignorance, and showed us that the 
Greek, as well as other languages, was also a growth, 
evolution or development ; that its forms were the results 
of laws ; that what seemed to be a mere dry collection of 
rules and exceptions could be treated philosophically. 
For our benefit he translated large sections from Kueh- 
ner's Greek Grammar, and then in free lectures 
explained to us why some verbs governed one case 
and some another, and many other things in the Gram- 
mar that were new, very striking and suggestive. — When 
Dr. Nevin came to Mercersburg and heard of such a 
Greek Grammar, he proposed to translate it at once. 
But he was a little too late. Somebody in New Eng- 
land, one of the professors at Andover, had undertaken 
the work and it was already in press. 

In connection with his lectures on Mental Philosophy, 
Dr. Ranch delivered several on Phrenology, a subject 
which forty fiye years ago excited quite a lively interest, 
especially among students in colleges, who seemed to 
think it was something that could reveal to them their 
future. These lectures were moderate in tone. Whilst 
they tended to encourage those students whose heads 



214 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

were not quite normal in shape, they prevented others 
from being unduly elated by what Phenologists might 
say of their talents and future greatness. '^ It is fash- 
ionable of late/^ said Dr. Ranch, "either to decry Phre- 
nology, or to raise it above all other sciences. We, on 
our part, have to acknowledge that talents and capacities 
will, to a certain degree, be indicated by the formation 
of the skull. Character, on the other hand, is the eflFect 
of the will, and not of the nervous muscles. Carus, 
Hegel and others have spoken against the extravagances 
of Phrenology.^^ 

Whilst still in Germany, Dr. Ranch had published 
several learned works, among which was a treatise on 
the Resurrection of the Dead in Latin — De JResurrec- 
Hone Mortuorum — which was published at the requests 
of three German Universities. In this country he began 
to use his pen, as soon as he found it was safe for him 
to do so, for the benefit of our English public. His 
articles in the Messenger and in one of the leading quar- 
terlies of the day are still interesting. But it seems that 
German professors usually regard it as their mission 
to write books, or rather a series of them. Accord- 
ingly as soon as Dr. Ranch began to feel somewhat at 
home in the English language, he formed his plan to 
prepare a series of works, which he thought would be a 
benefit to American readers. At York already he had 
a volume on the " History of Neology in Germany/^ 



THE FACULTY 215 

ready for publication, but for this he was not sufficiently 
encouraged by the list of subscribers, and so the book 
was never issued from the press. His courage, how- 
ever, revived at Mercersburg, where in good earnest he 
made a beginning of preparing volume after volume for 
the public. 

His Psychology, — His " Psychology ; or. View of 
the Human Soul ; including Anthropology,^' published 
in the Spring of 1841, spoke for itself, and was pro- 
nounced by O. A. Brownson as " a work of genius/^ 
It was, as he wished it to be, " the first attempt to unite 
German and American mental philosophy/' But as it 
was pervaded with one spirit, our American scholars 
soon understood its general drift ; evidently coming, as 
it did, from an idealistic or spiritual school, and that 
away oif in the interior of Pennsylvania, it arrested con- 
siderable attention. It was introduced as a text-book 
in several seminaries of learning. Dr. Nevin, of course, 
gave it a critical scrutiny, and furnished an able review 
of it, which was published in the Messenger. 

The subject of which it treated, although often re- 
garded as too abstruse for ordinary readers, is one of 
universal interest, and concerns all alike, who take any 
interest in themselves or their fellow men. The Bible 
treats first of God, and then of man. No other book 
teaches us so much about the one or the other. The 
human mind is the only receptable of the truths of di- 



216 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

vine revelation, and if it is to be pervaded with religion, 
we ought to know something of its character and capac- 
ity. Christianity is a new Life for man, which has its 
seat in the depths of the Soul, and must always be con- 
ditioned in the end by that living nature through 
which it is to be revealed as a reality to the world. 
" Psychology and Theology,^' says Dr. Ranch, " are 
connected by their common subject, which is ManJ^ 
" Man as the subject of Psychology, is created for Re- 
ligion and cannot do without it. Religion is not a mere 
quality, but the substance of man.'' The true Doctrine 
of Man, therefore, has a most vital bearing on all the 
vital interests of humanity. 

Much confusion, with more or less scepticism and 
uncertainty, had come to prevail on the subject of men- 
tal science in this country and England, and it was 
something seasonable that a work on the subject, treated 
from a new point of view, should make its appearance. 

Dr. Ranch had been trained in the literature and 
philosophy of the Fatherland. He came to this country 
as one familiar with its great scholars, such as Kant and 
Hegel and Schleiermacher, accustomed to think from 
the same standpoint as they, knowing them well and not 
gazing upon them through the medium of a foreign life. 
He had, at the same time, been long enough in this 
country, to make himself familiar with its language, and 
to become acquainted with the mind which it embodied. 



THE FACULTY 217 

He had studied the philosophy of Locke and of the 
Scotch school, all of which had become in a measure 
familiar ground to him : he was accordingly prepared to 
yield to it a fair degree of respect in his own specula- 
tions. The conditions, therefore, seemed to be all at 
hand to secure something original on mental science for 
American readers. All things tended to conspire to- 
gether in the production of a work that would answer 
an important practical purpose, in counteracting what 
was one-sided in the different tendencies, German and 
English, and in reconciling whatever there was in them 
separately of truth and right. 

The Psychology of Dr. Ranch, however, was not an 
^^ elective compound,^' which is neither the one nor the 
other ; neither was it in the characteristic spirit of the 
Anglo-Scotch philosophy ; but truthful to itself, it was 
predominantly Germanic. Its philosophy was spiritual, 
more than sensuous. It looked more to the real than 
the merely phenomenal. It sought to penetrate into the 
life of things, and to comprehend them in their unity, 
rather than to dissect them after they were dead. It 
was syncretic rather than eclectic, synthetic rather than 
analytic. 

In the mental philosophy of the day the mind, or the 
spiritual part of man, occupied almost exclusive atten- 
tion, as if he had no body and was exclusively an intel- 
lectual being. The effect was to give a wrong impression 
15 



218 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

of what he really was, and of course a one-sided view of 
his inward, spiritual nature. He is body and soul, or 
body, soul and spirit, and these are so organically con- 
nected as to form the totality of his being. Rudely to 
sunder them, therefore, is to do violence to the very idea 
of man. Current books on this subject sought to show 
what he could do through his mind, and not what he 
was in himself. They taught us how the intellectual 
faculties acted, how far human comprehension reached, 
and were very careful to define its limits, beyond which it 
could not extend, often doing injustice to human reason, 
and favoring the interests of scepticism and uncertainty. 
Thus the idea of man as a unity of many diversified 
activities was overlooked, and what was left of him 
was a mere intellectual skeleton, rather than a living 
being, that could be seen and felt, no less than thought 
of. Dr. Ranch, on the other hand, sought to throw 
light on the nature of humanity, so as to give us self- 
knowledge, something inculcated in the inscription on 
the temple of Apollo, which, however, the great Apollo 
never explained. His work is a valuable contribution 
to the doctrine of man, and it is only a matter of regret 
that he was not able to bring into it that more extended 
knowledge, which he was wont to pour out in his class- 
room. 

His treatise consists of two Parts, together with an 
Introduction, which is a very instructive portion of the 



1 



THE FACULTY 219 

work itself. The object of this last is to draw the line 
of destinction clearly and fully between man and the 
living world beneath him. This is done with much 
ability and remarkable clearness, so that he who runs 
may read that he is something vastly more than a mere 
animal. — The First Part treats of Anthropology, as it is 
called, which has for its object to consider the mind as 
wrought upon and moulded by influences external to it 
in the natural world, and also the reflex influence of the 
mind over the body. The entire representation tends to 
show that the body has a spiritual character about it ; 
that it is a vital part of man ; and that it is suspectable 
of being transfigured into spirit by its union with the 
spiritual nature of its owner. 

In the Second Part, we are introduced to Psycholo- 
gy, or the Science of the Soul, in its own proper sense. 
This treats of the mind as a process of life, unfolding 
itself in harmony with its own life oiit of the general 
life of self-consciousness. This self-consciousness, with 
Dr. Ranch, has about it more of a German, than of a 
Scotch or Anglican aspect. It forms the ground of 
Personality, as distinguished from mere Individuality, 
such as we have in animals. " It is the light by which 
alone we see in the sphere of knowledge." It is the 
centre of Reason and Will, and in fact of all our activ- 
ities, whether intellectual, moral or religious, and holds 
them together in the unity of one single being. Animals 



220 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

have self-feeling, but man alone has self-consciousness. 
This leads him to a new method of looking at the differ- 
ent faculties of which we are conscious. 

" With Dr. Ranch," says Dr. Nevin, " the mind is 
not a multitude of faculties, as the old metaphysics were 
wont to talk, nor yet a simple activity, according to 
Brown, and the latter school generally. It is always 
one, and yet manifold, at the same time. It develops 
itself through a succession of faculties, the highest still 
infolded in the lower, always becoming different as it 
expands and reaches towards heaven, and yet always 
continuing substantially the same. It finds its image in 
the Plant. As this unfolds itself organically in growth, 
always evolving itself in new completeness, till it real- 
izes its nature fully, in the end, as the blossom and the 
fruit ; so in the case before us there is a regular devel- 
opment of spirit, from one form of life to another, till 
it effloresces at last and becomes ripe in the highest ac- 
tivities of which it is capable. ^ The first development 
of the soul, the leaves near the root of its existence, are 
the senses. These are followed by attention and con- 
ception. Higher than these are fancy, imagination and 
memory, which may be considered as the blossoms on 
the tree of knowledge ; while pure thinking, under the 
form of the understanding, judgment, reason and will, 
are the ripe fruits.' Now we have at once the author's 
Psychological Tree, if we may so name it, by which he 



THE FACULTY 221 

is governed in treating afterwards of the life of the mind 
in detail.^^ — All the faculties of the soul, intellectual 
and moral, are included under the two heads of Reason 
and Will, of which they are higher and lower forms of 
activity, and which continually run into each other, as 
being in fact only one activity, one and inseparable. 

This method of looking at the soul is undoubtedly 
correct, and is well calculated to generate a high opinion 
of the dignity of human nature, and to inspire reverence 
for a being who is so fearfully and wonderfully made. 
But it is manifest upon only a cursory examination that 
the soul in its natural state lies under the power of a 
fatal disease. The will is enslaved. It can have no 
freedom of its own, except as it is actuated by the divine 
will, which originally was intended to be the law of its 
nature. The possibility of choosing evil, which is con- 
stantly actualized, shows that it is no longer free. " Lib- 
erty is a free activity, one that is not arbitrariness, but 
includes necessity .^^ 

According to Dr. Rauch there is a natural or psy- 
chic will, which is determined by the feelings, passions 
or appetites of the soul ; and there is a moral will, which 
is spiritual and free, with power to rule over man's 
lower nature. So also there is a natural conscience, 
which often is no conscience at all, whilst there is an- 
other of a higher character through which God Himself 
speaks. 



CHAPTER VIII 



Ranch's Aesthetics 

In the Summer Term of 1840 it fell to the lot of 
Dr. Rauch to teach the Sophomore Class, of which the 
writer was a member, Whateley's Logic, most generally 
regarded as a rather dry study. After a few recitations 
out of the text book, and a few lectures on the system 
of Aristotle, the father of Logic, our professor proposed 
to the class to deliver, in the place of those recitations, a 
course of lectures on Aesthetics. To this all of course 
assented quite freely, although few of us at the time 
exactly understood what was meant by the term Aes- 
thetics. We, however, came to perceive that the object 
was to teach us something about the philosophy of the 
Fine Arts. That was a subject that was new and espe- 
cially attractive. The lectures, although delivered to a 
small class of nine members, excited quite an interest, 
and made a deep impression on the minds of the stu- 
dents of both institutions, as they eagerly read about 
them in the Doctor's short notes. We here give an out- 
line of them, based on the somewhat meager notes which 
we took at the time. 

Nature and Art. — It is common to hear persons 
speak of Nature and Art, as if they were in some way 
opposed to each other. The old question, whether the 



rauch's aesthetics 223 

works of Art are superior to the works of Nature, hinges 
upon this antithesis, and continues to be debated without 
any prospect of a satisfactory solution. The popular 
view gradually leans towards the works of Nature, be- 
cause God is the author of Nature, whilst man is the 
author of Art. But it is not true that God works only 
in the natural world, whilst the sphere of Art is left to 
the wisdom and skill of man. It is true that nature is 
the development of the divine will, which penetrates 
and animates those laws, by which its frame-work is 
held together ; but it is certainly an error to suppose 
that the divine power here breaks off abruptly with the 
inanimate world, and has nothing to do with human 
intelligence and genius. The works of art are produced 
by the free development of the human imagination, but 
the laws by which they are evolved, are as much the ex- 
pressions of the divine will as those that give form to 
the various productions of the vegetable or mineral 
world. The same power that forms the icicle, the dew- 
drop or the rose, reigns as law just as supremely in the 
evolution of works of poetry, painting or music. Art, 
of course, is penetrated with human consciousness and 
intelligence, whilst Nature is not, and this elevates it 
into a higher sphere than that of the blind productions 
of nature. But this is simply a distinction and not such 
a difference as emancipates it from the power of divine 
and eternal laws. Art stands in nature, and is pro[)erly 



224 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

a part of it ; but its constant tendency is to rise above 
and beyond it, by taking up into it its diversified forms, 
and then refining them and filling them with a clearer 
and more distinct meaning, until it approaches in the 
way of type, shadow or prophecy, the great infinite and 
eternal Beyond, in whom the universe itself finds its 
truth and significance. As thus related. Nature and Art 
form a living unity, and cannot be abstractly sundered. 
Art, without nature, becomes fantastic and meaningless ; 
whilst, on the other hand. Nature without art is deprived 
of her legitimate exponent and is shorn of her beauty. 

Science. — Art, however, has its proper antithesis, 
and this it finds in the idea of Science, which commences 
with particular phenomena, facts or events, and then 
seeks to arrive at general principles or laws. Philoso- 
phy, as the most universal science, then comes in to de- 
duce still more general principles, and from her impe- 
rial throne sways a more than regal sceptre over the 
realms of knowledge, holds them under the omnipotence 
of law, and proceeds to extend her dominions over new 
regions of facts and phenomena. 

Art — Art, on the other hand, takes its rise in the 
ideal world, and is, first and foremost, exclusively con- 
cerned with the general or universal. The true artist 
in his own way has as keen an eye to penetrate into the 
inner nature and truth of things as the scientist or the 
philosopher ; but this he does by a species of inspiration 



rauch's aesthetics 225 

or intuition, and not so much by the hard study of the 
man of science, with his laborious experiments. When, 
however, he has attained to such a vision of the inner 
soul of things, he is not satisfied as the mere theorizer 
would be, nor has he attained to the end of art. He 
has formed an ideal, it is true, which exists within him 
as a germ, involving a power that cannot lie forever 
dormant, when the proper conditions for its evolution 
are at hand. It is still without form and void, but, in 
accordance with a law of life that is supreme every- 
where, it seeks to embody itself, and as far as possible 
to become tangible to the outward senses of man. It 
exists in the mind not as an abstraction, but as a living 
power. 

The material for its embodiment is always at hand 
in the external world, in nature, in history, in man. 
Music finds what it needs in sounds, painting in color, 
sculpture in marble, and poetry in words. The mission 
of the artist, guided by a genial imagination and the 
laws of taste, is to shape and transform the rude mate- 
rial until it is best adapted to represent the particular 
thought or idea, which has been fermenting in his soul. 
This involves an inward union of thought and form, of 
the ideal and real, of the invisible and the visible, of the 
finite and the infinite — in a word, a creation, a unity in 
diversity. When this coalescing process is completed, we 
have a work of art, " a thing of beauty,^^ admired by 



226 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

all, not on account of its usefulness or the skill it dis- 
plays, but simply because, as we say, it is beautiful. 
Thus that symbolism of nature, by which it points to a 
higher world, is taken up and completed in the sphere 
of art. God is the greatest of all artists, and men are 
his servants in the realms of the Beautiful and Sublime. 

Thus whilst Science proceeds from the particular to 
the general, and then rests on the summit which it has 
reached. Art on the other hand, proceeds from the gen- 
eral to the particular, and when it has succeeded in unit- 
ing the two, it rests and enjoys its sabbath also. The 
one has discovered the truey the object of his search, the 
other has produced the beautiful^ and this is the end of 
his toils and cares. 

The Truth of Art — But whilst Science and Art seem 
to be antipodes, it must not be supposed that they have 
nothing in common. This were contrary to all anal- 
ogy, and to the well established law, that nothing in 
the universe' can stand in a state of isolation. Truth, as 
already said, is the object and end of science and phi- 
losophy, whilst Beauty is the consummation of Art. But 
the two ideas, the True and the Beautiful, although ap- 
parently divergent, are nevertheless one and the same ; 
they meet in the Good, which is God, their author and 
source, for in Christ He is the absolute Truth, and the 
absolute Beauty, because He is the absolute Good. Ac- 
cording to Plato, Beauty is the reflection of Truth. It 



RAUCH^S AESTHETICS 227 

is simply the embodiment of truth in the various forms 
of Art, which it animates and through which it emits 
the mild radiance of its divine original. There are, 
however, two methods of representing truth to the com- 
prehension of men in their present transitional state. 
In the one case, it is presented as far as possible under 
its naked or abstract forms, with as little help from the 
senses as possible. This is the mission of Science. In 
the other case, it comes arrayed in the bright colors or 
forms of the imagination, under sensuous forms in ac- 
cordance with the laws of taste. This is Art. 

But now as there can be no Science where there is 
no truth as its basis, so there can be no Art in the sphere 
of error, falsehood, or deceit. When the artist, accord- 
ingly, panders to a corrupt public opinion, attempts to 
varnish over vice, or to give expression to his own sub- 
jective lust, infidelity or sensuality, he has lost his true 
polar star, profaned the name of Art, and forfeited his 
niche in the temple of the muses. At times Lord By- 
ron soared into the highest regions of poetry, but he, 
too, often sank down, and defiled his garments in the 
dust. The world discriminates and passes a judgment 
which it never recalls. False art may enjoy an ephem- 
eral popularity ; it may bring money into the pocket of 
the artist, or Voltaire-like call forth the acclamation of 
the multitude on the street. But when the next wave 
of human progress comes along, its falsehoods are swept 



228 



COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 



away and forgotten. The works of such artists, how- 
ever, as Honaer, Sophocles and Phidias remain and con- 
tinue to be the admiration of the civilized world. 

The Science of Art, — As, therefore. Art may be 
abused just as well as Science, and be employed in the 
service of sin and error, there ought to be a philosophy 
of Art to keep it within its proper sphere of truth, so 
that it may not be allowed to serve the purposes of lust 
and falsehood. 

Important interests consequently require that the 
national taste should be kept pure, and this can be best 
done by bringing it from time to time before the tribu- 
nal of general principles or laws, and requiring it to give 
an account of its stewardship. This is so much the 
more necessary, because, as it has so much to do with 
sensuous forms, its true or spiritual character may be 
overlooked or ignored. It then becomes false to its 
calling and plunges into the depths of sensuality. Or, 
if it remains true to itself, the outward form attracts 
supreme attention and becomes an object of religious 
homage, as with the statues of the saints or the paint- 
ings of the Virgin Mary in some Christian countries. 
Heathen Art generally is thus prostituted. Hence it 
becomes necessary that we should have a science of 
Aesthetics, or a philosophy of the Beautiful. 

Art National^ but Universal. — Art, as a matter of 
course, will vary in chaiacter with the age or land in 



EAUCH S AESTHETICS 229 

which it is produced. Thus we have a Grecian, Assyr- 
ian or Egyptian Art. We have also a Heathen, or Mo- 
hammedan Art, and under the h'ght of Christianity we 
have Christian Art. Its character will depend in a large 
degree upon the maternal soil out of which it grows, and 
its intrinsic value will vary with the amount of truth, 
which is involved in a given form of civilization. But 
•in the midst of all these variations, there is that which 
is immutable an'd enduring. Thus Winkelmann speaks 
of the masterpiece of Grecian sculpture : '^ Of all the 
antique statues that have escaped the fury of barbarians 
and the destructive hand of time, the statue of Apollo 
is, without contradiction, the most sublime. One would 
suppose that the artist composed a figure purely ideal, 
and employed matter only because it was necessary for 
him in order to execute and represent his idea. Its 
height is above that of man, and its attitude proclaims 
the divine grandeur, with which it is filled. A peren- 
nial spring-time, like that which reigns in the happy 
fields of Elysium, clothes with lovable youth the beau- 
tiful body, and shines with sweetness over the structure 
of the limbs." 

Christian Art creates its own forms of beauty, en- 
thused as it is, with new and more sublimer ideas, but 
true Christianity is never hostile to the Art of any na- 
tion or race, except as it is misapplied or untrue to it- 
self. All Art is humanizing, enters into the culture of 



230 COLLEGE EECOLLECTIONS 

the age, and contributes its share in the exaltation and 
ennoblement of man. 

After discussing the nature of Art in general, Dr, 
Ranch for the want of time took up only Poetry as one 
of the Fine Arts, and employed it as an illustration of 
the general principles that underlie Art in general. 

Poetry, — Poetry is more expressive and universal 
than any of its sister arts. Architecture, Sculpture, 
Painting and Music are all more or less circumscribed 
in their range, and, from their nature and the character 
of the material they must employ, they can afford only 
partial glances into the ideal world. Poetry, on the 
other hand, has no such limitations. '' The boundless 
universe is hers.^^ Human speech, more flexible than 
marble or color or sound, is the material which she 
shapes for her use and transforms into every possible 
form of beauty. It can be made to reflect all possible 
forms of beauty in nature, or penetrating the world of 
consciousness, depicts the highest, the holiest, the purest 
feelings and sentiments of the human breast, with more 
life and power than Painting or Music. She takes her 
flight into still higher regions and expresses purer ideas 
or thoughts of God, Holiness, Justice, and Truth in their 
native beauty. 

Poetry and Prose. — Poetry, as one of the Fine Arts, 
is best understood by distinguishing it from that sphere 
of literary activity towards which it sustains a polar 



rauch's aesthetics 231 

relation. Poetry and prose constitute an antithesis and 
occupy separate spheres, although sometimes in the 
hands of the initiated are made to interfere with each 
other in their specific vocations. As a consequence we 
meet with poetic prose or prosy poetry, just as the one 
or the other element predominates. They are incon- 
gruities in the sphere of the arts, and involve a confu- 
sion of ideas, whose boundary lines are distinct and 
ought to be observed. To write plain and humble prose, 
requires art and cultivation of a high order. But poetry 
is a distinct province, which stands by itself, and has 
given rise to a different branch of Art. 

Prose Works. — Prose varies in its character. It may 
be descriptive, narrative, argumentative or speculative, 
but in all cases it is simply reproductive, and fidelity to 
the objective world, which it describes or investigates, is 
essentially necessary. The historian is expected to nar- 
rate events just as they occurred ; he is not allowed to 
omit any essential fact on the one hand, nor, on the 
other, to give too much significance, or too high a 
coloring to those which he details. He penetrates the 
meaning of his materials and unfolds the laws of human 
progress. It is his ofllce to discover what is, not to in- 
vent, and he is, therefore, no poet, or, as the word 
means, no maker. If he attempts to do that, he is a 
falsifier. Oratory seeks to convince and pursuade, and 
this is accomplished, when the orator has proved that a 



232 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

particular case belongs to a general principle, truth or 
rule. He, as well as the historian, adorns his produc- 
tions with flowers gathered from the garden of poetry, 
but these must be kept in a subordinate relation to the 
ultimate effect, which is to be produced. It is a sad 
mistake, therefore, in an oration, when it is so construc- 
ted that the audience forgets the particular point, which 
is to be established, and is thrown into an ecstacy of ad- 
miration at the gorgeous imagery under which it is con- 
cealed. Oratory, like history and science in general, 
creates nothing ; it simply reveals what already has an 
existence in the natural order of things. 

A sermon ought to be prose, but never prosy. It 
should be like a tree, a unity with fruit on it, not mere 
flowers or blossoms. Sensational preaching is apt to pass 
beyond the mission of the pulpit, and to lose sight of all 
true oratory. The effect often is to send the people 
home filled with admiration of the preacher and his fine 
sermon. He possibly may not have preached at all, 
but simply performed the part of an actor. When the 
Athenians heard an oration from Demosthenes, they said : 
*^ Let us go and fight Philip.^^ When they heard Cicero, 
they went away admiring his fine language, his senten- 
ces, his periods. 

Poetic Freedom. — Poetry, on the other hand, is in- 
ventive, creative and productive. The poet must have as 
sacred a regard for truth as the prose writer, but in his 



rauch's aesthetics 233 

representation of it he is not bound so rigidly by the 
historical order in which events or phenomena have 
taken place in the real world. He is perfectly free to 
select such facts as he needs, or to create new ones, if ne- 
cessary, just as it may suit his purpose. With poetic 
instinct, peculiarly his own, he gathers his material any- 
where in the broad fields of nature or history, and with 
an innate plastic power of his own gives them such a 
form as will be best adapted to reflect his own thoughts 
or satisfy his ideal. To Homer it was quite immaterial 
whether the siege of Troy was what he described it, or 
simply a piratical excursion of the early Greeks. With 
the few facts handed down by history, he created a siege 
of his own, which, if it were entirely fictitious, has con- 
centrated, as it were, into one of the focal points of his- 
tory the rich heroic life of the early Greeks, and with 
more effect and more truthfully also than any historian 
could have done with his own scanty material. Virgil 
following in his footsteps, describes the result of that 
memorable siege, the Trojan horse, the horrors of burn- 
ing Troy, with its midnight fires lighting up the neigh- 
boring coast. It may be the creation of the poet, but 
what of that ? The whole scene finds its meaning in 
the virtue and filial piety of his hero ^neas, escaping 
from the ruins of an old order of things, with his aged 
father Anchises on his shoulders, and carrying with him 
the paternal gods and the elements of a future magni- 
16 



234 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

ficent empire in the Far West. Virgil thus presents a 
better idea of what the Romans regarded as virtue, piety 
and morality than their moralists, Cato, Seneca or Epic- 
tetus. 

Similar illustrations may be drawn from a different 
sphere. Our Saviour in teaching the mysteries of the 
kingdom of heaven to the common people, draws His il- 
lustrations from the various walks of numan life. Most 
probably few of the facts which He employs in His in- 
imitable Parables occurred just as He stated them. That 
was a matter of no account, and the people understood 
Him very well. John Bunyan in his gloomy prison- 
house created an outward world of his own to serve the 
purpose of his wonderful Allegory. Had he possessed 
Pope's or Dryden's powers, and composed his work in 
their versification and rhyme, he would have not only 
excelled them, but have been classed among the 
greatest poets that have ever written. It is, however, 
doubtful whether his work in such a form would have 
been as useful as it is now. He was a representative 
man of his age, and was destined to live and help to 
mould the future. 

But again, prose differs from poetry in the manner 
in which the external material and the inward spirit are 
brought together. Poetry is older than prose, and, 
therefore, although its contents may be the same as 
prose, yet the connection between the form and its con- 



RAUCH^S AESTHETICS 235 

tents are not the same. In poetry the general and the 
particular, the law and the phenomenon, are not sep- 
arated, as they are in prose by critical reflection. 

If we examine the inner constitution of prose works, 
we find ourselves in an entirely different world. Here 
the critical judgment has been at work, and analysis has 
drawn the line sharply between the soul and the body, 
the spirit and the letter, between the law and the phe- 
nomenon, between cause and effect, between means and 
end. The separation has been useful, and involves an 
advance in human existence ; but the process has been 
the destruction of all true poetry, as certainly as the dis- 
secting knife in the hand of the anatomist destroys the 
beauty that still lingers on the human form as its vital 
powers leave it. The transition from the region of 
poetry into that of sober prose is immense, as great as 
the passage from a campaign country, where perfumed 
breezes are wont to sport with shrub and flower, into 
some gorgeous hall, illuminated it may be with a thou- 
sand sparkling lamps, but otherwise filled with innu- 
merable skeletons left behind by the hand of Science. 

Romance has the form of prose, but is in fact poetry> 
and often of a very high order. The spirit of poetry 
here throws aside the restrictions laid on the poet by the 
laws of versification, of rhythm, or rhyme, and expati- 
ates with all its own assorted nature freedom through 
the realms of fancy. It is, however, not lawless, but 



236 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

just as subject to law as the poet. Hence we have 
worthless novels — mere empty trash — as well as such 
as the ennobling and humanizing romances of Sir Wal- 
ter Scott. But true poetry is the twin-sister of music, 
and was originally intended to be sung to the notes of 
the harp or lyre, and is best embodied in verse or 
rhyme, where it is expected to employ a style and dig- 
nity of language, which best comport with its ideal 
character. 

Poetry, the Universal Art, — Poetry, if considered in 
its relation to itself, must have as its animating soul 
something that is general, such as an real action, pur- 
pose or fact, that has a central significance, with a union 
in itself, and its different parts or utterances. This gen- 
erality must not be something separated from the real 
world ; it must not be something abstract or lifeless, but 
in the fullest sense concrete and real, in which the parts 
that go to constitute the totality or union have an in- 
ternal connection. The scenery or development must 
have about it a human character ; for, though Poetry, as 
the universal art, is not confined to any particular rank 
of beauty, now soars to the regions of eternal light and 
lays its garlands before the throne of God, now descends 
into the gloomy shades of Hades, or walks the green 
earth and gathers beauty from the humble daisy ; yet 
it always seeks to make its home with man, sings a 
human song, which, if it ascends to Heavens, goes down 



J 



rauch's aesthetics 237 

into Hell, or resounds throughout nature, it is still made 
up of human affections, human sympathies and human 
thoughts. 

Poetry y National. — In the Iliad, the wrath of Achil- 
les is the central point, from which is evolved with won- 
derful classic beauty, and yet with wonderful ease and 
speed, the heroic life of Greece, bringing before the 
mind of the reader panoramic views of her social, po- 
litical, military and religious life, her virtues and her 
vices, her glory and her shame. What, in the natural 
course of events, it required centuries to develop, is here 
concentrated and evolved on the plains of Troy in a pe- 
riod of less than two months. Critics have not discov- 
ered the same unity, the same diversity nor the same 
completeness of parts in Virgil, Milton, or even Dante. 
Yet these are truly great poets, because they embodied 
the spirit of their age in their immortal works. If we 
wish to understand the religious spirit of the Middle 
Ages, we must go to Dante, who describes it faithfully, 
with its errors and superstitions in his Divine Comedy. 
The same is true of Milton. He represents truthfully 
the England of his day, with its theology and moral 
earnestness. Sir Isaac Newton, it is said, took no in- 
terest in his poem, because it proved nothing. Of course 
it did not. It was a work of art, not a treatise on 
science. 

This country has not as yet produced a national 



238 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

poem, although we have some real poets. Uncle Tom's 
Cabin is a work of genius, but it represents only one 
part of our character, and that a very dark one, 
which we have outlived, because it was not truly Amer- 
ican. Full justice, perhaps, has been done to our Amer- 
ican Indians by Cooper, Washington Irving and Long- 
fellow. But we are an earnest and religious people, as 
well as patriotic, and we have a character as a whole 
which is worthy of being embodied in song. The great- 
ness and grandeur of the American spirit — on both sides 
— came out in our late conflict, and surprised the world. 
Who will embody it in a national epic ? The time has 
perhaps not yet arrived. We must live a while longer, 
and gain another great victory by getting out of our 
one-sidedness. 

Didactic Poetry. — All philosophic themes, as virtue, 
honor or religion, viewed as abstractions, are not poetic. 
Although the realms of the muses are infinite in the 
world of reality, they do not extend their walks into the 
regions of abstractions, nor commune with airy nothings, 
that have neither flesh, muscle, vein or artery about 
them. When, however, the subjects just named appear 
in the concrete relations of life and walk as realities un- 
der the blue heavens and on the green earth, in the 
living purpose of man or woman, they are poetic and 
admit of poetic representation. Then the muse can sing 
of faith, love, piety, and religion, with more enthusiasm. 



eauch's aesthetics 239 

and with quite as much truthfulness as the moralist or 
the philosopher can speculate on these sublime topics. 
Didactic poetry as such, that is, poetry whose professed 
object is to teach or instruct, often recommended by 
those who have the interests of religion and morality at 
heart, not because they are works of Art, but because 
they inculcate true views and sentiments, is not pure 
poetry, at least in its higher forms. It is either the 
incipient effort of a nation's muse, endeavoring to clothe 
the sayings of its wise men in poetic language, or it is 
the product of a later age of reflection, perhaps of a 
period of transition, when the poetic life is giving way 
to a life of sober, earnest prose. Didactic poetry, how- 
ever, has its place, — and that is, when it serves as an 
accompaniment. In an epic poem or a drama, it is the 
right thing when some one comes forward and gives 
utterance to noble thoughts or purposes. When he 
does this without constraint or hypocrisy, the didactic 
element is not only in place, but in an eminent degree 
poetical. In such connections the lesson falls on the 
human ear like the voice of an ancient seer or prophet. 
The chief value, and indeed the artistic excellence of a 
poem, depends on its being so constructed, that it shall 
without constraint give free expression to the best, the 
profoundest and holiest thoughts of the human breast, 
of the age or country. The poems of the Greek trage- 
dians, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, are remark- 



240 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

able for the pure and lofty sentiments that glitter on 
their pages, like gems on the brow of peerless beauty. 
In this respect, heathen as they were, they present a 
marked contrast as compared with many dramas that 
have been produced in Christian countries under much 
more favorable circumstances. The wisdom, which is 
thus embodied in the creations of poetry, presents us 
with examples of the highest beauty — the moral and 
spiritual. It is a word fitly spoken like apples of gold 
in baskets of silver. But it is quite otherwise when 
didactic poetry separates itself from the epos or the 
drama, and aims at establishing itself as an independent 
branch of the Art. It then becomes what the Germans 
call an " Unding/^ which is not exactly the one nor the 
other, not true poetry and not pure prose. Some have 
collected the wisdom of the poets and formed books of 
Poetical Quotations out of their sayings. But in such 
cases the wisdom selected has been rudely dragged from 
its living connections, whilst much of the beauty and 
poetry have been left behind. Our English didactic poe- 
try, illustrating the moral earnestness of the English 
character, is not without merit in its place, especially in 
Young's Night Thoughts, a much esteemed acquaint- 
ance of many serious persons. If the poem falls 
short of the true idea of poetry, it can be read with 
profit, daily as well as nightly, on account of its reli- 
gious, philosophic sentimentalism, adorned with much 
poetic imagery. 



rauch's aesthetics 241 

Descriptive Poetry, — A similar criticism may be made 
of the poetry, which takes as its theme some aspect of 
nature, or its varied aspects as they come before us in 
the seasons of the year. Here we have descriptive po- 
etry, which, as a mere painting of the face of nature, 
has no unity, and, of course, is wanting in the animat- 
ing soul of poetry. Here the theme is not an abstract 
generality, but a series of particular things that stand 
in no connection with some central point of unity, or 
some general idea or purpose of man. Nature finds its 
true meaning in man, who is the centre and vanishing 
point of all her productions. Without man it is mean- 
ingless ; it has neither sound, nor variation of color, and 
such must be the nature of all poetising, that does not 
make man occupy a prominent position in the fore- 
ground. Descriptive, like didactic poetry, when sepa- 
rated from true lyric, epic or dramatic poetry, is out of 
its place, and loses the aroma, which it exhales when in 
its proper relation, as something subordinate to the de- 
velopment of a truly human activity. Description is 
called for in poetry of every kind, but the true poet 
employs it only as it may serve to embody his ideas or 
give animation to thoughts that are struggling for ex- 
pression in his breast. There is all the difference in the 
world between a professedly descriptive poem, and the 
descriptions of nature as they come forward in the Iliad, 
in the plays of Shakspeare, or in the better parts of 



242 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Lord Byron's poetry. In the latter case, nature is made 
an organic part of the poem ; it is the background of the 
scene in which are human actors; and from its hidden 
retreats, it seems to sympathize with the passions of men, 
or else to give out omens of a dark and frowning dis- 
approval. In Goethe's Faust natural scenery stands in 
intimate connection with the evolution of the deep prob- 
lems of human life, whilst the landscape painting of 
Thompson's Seasons carries with it no such earnest 
meaning. 

Next to poetic themes, evolution, embodiment or 
representation, claims the attention of the poet and illus- 
trates his art. He carries with himself a unity that 
must unfold itself in multiplicity, and this in accordance 
with inherent laws. The material which he employs in 
the process must, of course, be taken from the country 
or latitude in which he was born and educated, for he is 
as much the product of his age or country as its flora or 
fauni. If he sings in the cold regions of the North, his 
his song, although pervaded with warmth of feeling, 
has in its external aspect something dreary, akin to the 
appearance of northern scenery. It has nothing gorg- 
eous about it ; only here and there a flower, that has not 
been bitten by the northern blast, lifts up its head. If 
he sings in a more favored zone, where nature appears 
in her more diversified forms of beauty, where flowers 
bloom profusely, and a luxuriant foliage is vocal with 



raxjch's aesthetics 243 

the music of singing birds, he catches the spirit that 
animates the world around him, that slumbers on the 
hill-side, the river bank, or the more hidden retreats of 
nature, and infuses it into his song. If he have genius 
like Homer or Shakspeare, every manifestation of nature, 
from the zephyr, blowing softly over gardens of roses, 
to the wild uproar of the tempest, is woven into his 
song, stereotyped there and consecrated to the spirit of 
beauty. Natural scenery is thus rendered classic, and 
continues to excite local emotions in the mind of the 
traveler in distant ages, when temple and monument 
raised by the hand of art, lie in ruins around him. Who 
now needs make a voyage across the ocean to form an 
idea of the scenery and the varied aspects of Greece, her 
coasts, her islands and seas ? Have they not been en- 
graved on tablets more durable than brass ? Are they 
not written in the chronicles of the poets? 

LyriG Poetry, — Turning from the external world of 
nature to his own inner world, the poet employs his own 
subjective feelings, and embodies them in song. He 
sings of his own sorrows and joys, of his disappointments 
and hopes, of his loves and hatreds, of his depressions 
and aspirations. This is lyrie Poetry, which is or 
should be predominantly subjeotive in its character. It 
includes the song, the ballad, the psalm or hymn, the 
elegy and all those poetic effusions, which have as their 
animating principle some deep feeling of the heart. It 



244 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

is subjective, but not in such a sense as to make it inde- 
pendent of the outward world. Feeling is called forth 
and modified by the circumstances in which the lyric 
poet is placed ; but these only serve as the occasion for 
poetic development; and hence, although he takes as his 
theme some external subject, as Pindar the Grecian 
games, or Schiller the successive stages in the formation 
of the Church Bell, it is soon left out of sight amidst 
the exuberance of the poet's fancies, and the variety of 
concordant thoughts and feelings to which it has given 
rise. Further, lyric poetry is subjective, but not in such 
a sense as divests it of its generality. With unerring in- 
stinct the poet selects from a chaos of conflicting feelings 
only those that strike a sympathetic cord in the breasts 
of men generally, and that carry with them a general 
significance. He thus attains a position beyond himself, 
and lives and breathes in the atmosphere of the univer- 
sal. Unless he can thus get beyond his own subjectiv- 
ity, his poetry would he simply an ebullition of feeling, 
destitute of reality or truth, and of no value or interest 
to the rest of mankind. We have illustrations of this 
universality in the Psalms of David, and in many of 
our church hymns, which travel from country to coun- 
try, from age to age, and maintain their perennial 
sweetness. 

Epic Poetry. — A still wider field of poetic wealth 
is found on the outside of the mind and heart of the in- 



rauch's aesthetics 245 

dividual poet, in the world of mankind at large, in hu- 
man history and experience, in nationalities and races, 
along the broad stream of history. He then selects the 
material from the external world, which he proceeds to 
reduce to a poetic form. He usually summons into his 
presence the wisest, the bravest, the best man, or the 
fairest and most virtuous woman, and, having appropri- 
ated to his own use the beautiful or the grand in their 
character, he dismisses them, and creates wiser, braver, 
more just and chaster beings for the ideal realms which 
he proposes to speak into existence. The characters 
thus formed, each beautiful and complete in itself, are, 
however, simply organs of a grand unity, — actors on 
the scene. Connected with some important event in 
history, they are gradually evolved, as they are called 
up to take part in the solution of the life-problems of 
the age. The real poet cannot rest satisfied with draw- 
ing scenes or painting portraits. He, therefore, breathes 
into his ideal creatures the general or national life, in 
which he as a genius lives and moves and has his being, 
and causes them to express the wisdom, the virtue and 
the morality of his age or country. Poetry thus be- 
comes national in its costume, and serves as the best ex- 
ponent of a nation's character and taste. 

But Poetry, as in the case of Art in general, con- 
stantly tends to rise above mere nature and to open up 
a communication with the supernatural world. The cos- 



246 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

mos would be incomplete, without the light of the heav- 
enly world shining down upon it. Accordingly, we 
find that it embodies more or less the theology or relig- 
ious spirit of the country or age, in which it is produced, 
under a concrete form. If the poet be a heathen, like 
Hesiod or Homer, he sings believingly and piously of 
the gods and their relations to man, untroubled by the 
scepticism or the doubts of the philosopher ; or, if he be 
a Christian, baptized in the deeper spirit of his age, he 
" soars above the Ionian Mount,'^ and animates his 
scenes with the benignant spirit of Christianity. If he 
borrows less of inspiration from the vale of Helicon, he 
drinks the more deeply from " Siloa's brook, that flowed 
fast by the oracle of God,^^ and sings of the true God, 
of Christ and His Church, of the Cross and the Crown. 
The great Christian poets of the Middle Ages, Dante, 
Tasso, Ariosto and Calderon, are, under this view, the 
best historians of their times, which, to say the least, 
were intensely religious. Dante in particular, who 
towers above the rest, and disputes the palm of superior 
genius with Homer and Shakspeare, has concentrated in 
his sublime allegory not only the wisdom and science of 
his times, but has given the most magnificent local hab- 
itation to the reigning religious and theological spirit of 
his age — with all its errors and its bondage to the letter. 
He was the Poet Laureate of medieval Christianity. 
The poetry that thus sings of the world on the out- 



rauch's aesthetics 247 

side of the poet is Epic Poetry, and in distinction from 
Lyric, is objective in its character. It expresses the 
feeling of the poet, but here no longer do the notes of 
joy or sadness appear to fall from his own lyre, but are 
represented outwardly and objectively in an historical 
narrative, — in historical personages. The scene is laid 
in the heroic period of a nation's history, or in an age of 
renewal and regeneration, replete with life and the po- 
etic fire. 

DramatiG Poetry. — Dramatic Poetry, on the other 
hand, unites the distinctive features of lyric and epic. 
It has a developed totality, that is spread out before us 
as in the epos, and has, therefore, an objective character. 
Yet it is not so restricted as epic poetry to the historical 
and the past. In this respect it is universal and free. 
It avails itself when necessary of the lyric or subjective 
element, and permits the poet, through the chorus, to 
give free activity to his own internal feelings. The 
whole plot, moreover, is not something past and finished, 
but in a process of development before our eyes, and 
resulting from the subjective passions and interests of its 
heroes. This kind of poetry had a classic development 
in Greece and arrived at its acme in Shakspeare, Goethe, 
Schiller aud a few others. 

After describing in detail the different kinds of poe- 
try. Dr. Ranch went into an analysis of the great poems 
of different ages and countries, such as the Cid of Spain, 



248 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

the Mahabarata of India, the Niebelungen Lied of Ger- 
many, Ossian's great poem, the Edda of Iceland, and 
others, more generally known, of which we can here 
give no account. 

Remarks. — These lectures of Dr. Ranch, as already 
remarked, made an impression on the minds of the stu- 
dents at the time, and produced, as we thought, bene- 
ficial results. Some of them reveled in works of fiction 
of the baser sort, and especially in the obscenities of 
Lord Byron's worst productions, which they maintained 
were his best, and written too, as they avowed, when he 
was under the influence of wine, in which they were 
probably correct. The new critique of poetry, which 
was set up, gave them a better idea of Art, and of what 
was good and bad in the poets. 

The religious students, on the other hand, also needed 
instruction on these matters. They were more or less 
puritanical and quakerish in their views of Art. Some 
of us had read little or no poetry, except what was relig- 
ious, which may have had little or no poetry about it. 
All of us were not sure that our religious profession 
allowed us to read Shakspeare at all, unless in an ex- 
purgated edition. Our reading consisted largely of such 
volumes as the Evangelical Family Library, a dozen or 
more in all, bound in blue. One of the Library Socie- 
ties, it is said, ordered the immortal work of Cervantes 
to be burned in the fire as a demoralizing book. It 



rauch's aesthetics 249 

was probably done on some individuaFs own authority. 
It grieved Dr. Ranch when he heard of it. But after 
the lectures on Aesthetics had been delivered, a change 
took place among us for the better. We read the poets 
eagerly, and what was better, we had some criterion by 
which to judge of what was true poetry and what was 
trash ; and in the sphere of fiction, of what was truth- 
ful and of what was mere balderdash, or lies like those 
of Baron Munchausen. We were thus set free from an 
unreasonable restriction in the progress of our education, 
and the way was open for us to graduate as bachelors of 
the Arts as well as of the Sciences. It helped us not a 
little to get the full benefit of a liberal education, for 
which we were sent to college. 

Dr. Ranch was a cultured Christian gentleman, re- 
fined in his tastes, and looked upon everything around 
him with an aesthetic eye. Sometimes he found it difiB- 
cult to continue his lecture, when anything in the class- 
room was incongruous, or out of place, and he sought to 
imbue upon his students the importance of uniting the 
beautiful and the good in their conduct. In his day the 
question of supplying the Church with a new liturgy 
was under discussion. In referring to it he incidentally 
dropped the remark that a liturgy was a " work of art." 
This made an impression on the minds of many that 
was never forgotten ; and it became a fruitful germ in 
subsequent discussions. 
17 



CHAPTER IX 



Eauch's Christian Ethics 

We frequently heard the students of the Senior Class 
speak of Dr. Ranches lectures on Ethics, and judging 
from the impression which they seem to have made on 
the minds even of the more thoughtless among them, 
we judged that they must have carried with them some 
special power of attraction. The religious students spoke 
of them as a highly edifying exercise. It w^as a general 
remark that they inculcated a very pure and exalted 
morality over against the false theories of morals of the 
day. All this had the effect to interest the students of 
the lower classes in the subject in advance, and to pre- 
pare them for this study when their time came. Much 
of what was taught in the lectures was metaphysical, 
and required close attention ; and, as we thought, deep 
study, in order that it might be understood ; but that 
was not without its influence on us ; and we were for the 
most part quite willing to exert ourselves to master the 
hard problems that were proposed to us. Some of us 
succeeded, and some perhaps not, but all learned some- 
thing valuable and were impressed with the dignity and 
usefulness of the science. 

The notes that were taken of the lectures, at the 
time, passed from one generation of students to another, 



rauch's christian ethics 251 

and were preserved in manuscript. They are pretty 
extensive ; but of course they fall short of what they 
were when they were delivered from the rostrum with 
the warmth and inspiration of the professor, as he en- 
larged on each point of his theme. We studied them, 
taught them several years, compared them with Daub's 
lectures on the same subject, upon which they were 
based, and now give our readers some of their leading 
thoughts, mostly in the way of general statements, using 
technical terms only where it seems useful and necessary. 

Division. — The whole subject is divided into Two 
Parts, the one general and the other special. The latter 
speaks of particular duties, and their relations to each 
other in a system. This latter Part arrested the atten- 
tion of a particular class of students, and it is said, had 
its influence on their conduct. The other Part, which 
had a special attraction for others, considered the origin 
and foundation of morality, and discussed general prin- 
ciples, such as the nature of law, the principle of moral 
obligation, conscience, the good, rights, liberty, necessity, 
and so on. 

The Natural and the Moral. — Ethics is the science of 
morality : but that which is moral is to be distinguished 
on the one side, from that which is natural^ and, on the 
other, from that which is immoral. The animal lives 
in the sphere of the purely natural, and it therefore has 
no duties and no moral character. Morality exists only 



252 



COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 



in the human world, where there is personality, endowed 
with reason and will. The natural may exist without 
the moral, but the moral cannot exist without the natu- 
ral, because it is a part of the universe, its crown and 
end, of which the natural world is the outward or phy- 
sical basis. Morality is a part of humanity, something 
concrete, not an abstraction ; it is the glory of man, with- 
out which he is no longer man, but something else. 

The moral on the other hand is to be distinguished 
from the immoral or sinful, which is something inimical 
and destructive to it. There must, therefore, be some 
law which underlies it, makes it what it is, and gives to 
it a distinctive character. Law is fundamental, and 
rules supremely in all forms of existences. 

Law as an Abstraction, — The word law in general 
is often used as a mere thought or abstraction. Lawyers 
and statesmen are most concerned with particular laws 
in their application to society. They have to do only 
with outward obedience — not with the motives of men 
in their obedience, or the nature of law as such. Hence 
it is that the term law has come to mean little or noth- 
ing, and actual laws are regarded simply as rules invol- 
ving in themselves no such living power as they derive 
from their source in the general law. 

Blackstone defines law as '^ a method of action,'^ which 
suited his purpose as a civilian. The laws of the state 
are specific laws established for its own protection : they 



rauch's christian ethics 253 

require mere outward obedience and have nothing to do 
with the animus or spirit with which they are to be 
obeyed ; but back of them is the divine law out of which 
they spring, and from which they derive their power 
and their claims to obedience. It would be well, there- 
fore, for lawyers and statesmen to bear this in mind, 
which they sometimes do in their more sublime flights 
of eloquence. It would add dignity to the bar, and 
power to law-givers, if it were felt that law has a divine 
no less than a human side, and cannot be handled as 
mere public opinion, or the arbitrary opinions of majori- 
ties or of mere individuals. 

Law in the Concrete. — But whilst the word law has 
thus come to be regarded as a mere abstraction, it is not 
always understood in that sense. Even newspaper edi- 
tors catch a glimpse of it, sometimes, of its majesty as a 
reality, that has an actual existence, as when they speak 
of its power in asserting the claims of justice and visit- 
ing upon the head of the criminal the penalty of his 
misdeeds. This is not mere figurative language, but the 
expression of a true intuition, and the people so under- 
stand it. 

Law in General. — All law is one, and is simply the 
manifestation of the same divine power in all the differ- 
ent spheres in which it is active. Its mission and func- 
tions are everywhere the same. In the crystal it is the 
power that brings together many particles of matter and 



254 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

gives them a particular form ; or in scholastic language, 
the power that unites form and contents. In the plant 
or animal it performs the same oflBce. Man as a whole 
in his numerous and diversified activities is also the pro- 
duct of law, from his lowest to his highest form of ac- 
tivity. But here comes in the moral law, which is to 
rule him as a personality, a free agent, and bring about 
his perfection. Here the contents are men's thoughts 
or reason, and a holy will is the form. Their union 
is the work of the law. The process is a growth that 
is controlled by law throughout involving an inward 
generating power or force, even more so than in the case 
of the plant or animal. In the world below man, law 
rules exclusively by necessity : in man, by freedom as 
well as necessity. — The philosopher Kant compares the 
moral law with the law of gravitation. The one con- 
trols the physical universe, the other does, or should, 
the world of intelligent beings. Both filled his mind 
with wonder and amazement. 

The Moral Law. — The moral law, in order to be a 
reality, a power for the human will, must have individu- 
ality for individuals, particularity for States or nations, 
and universality or generality for mankind at large. 

We have many specific laws or rules for the govern- 
ment of life. We meet with them in the Family, the 
State and the Church. These in themselves are not the 
moral law ; they, however, do or should grow out of it ; 



rauch's christian ethics 255 

they carry in them all their power or vitality only as 
they are pervaded by it. There is, therefore, a radix or 
root out of which all other laws for human beings grow 
a lex legum or law of laws. This must first be consid- 
ered in a treatise on morals, as it is the foundation on 
which all morality rests. It leads to the origin or source 
of all law in the bosom of the Deity. Of this Cicero 
speaks when he says that it is everywhere the same, the 
same at Athens, the same at Rome, and the same every- 
where else. Of this the poet Sophocles also sings : 

**0 that 'twere mine to keep 
An awful purity 
In words and deeds, whose laws on high are set 
Through heaven's clear aether spread, 
Whose birth Olympus boasts, 
Their one, their only sire. 
Which man's frail flesh begat not, 
Nor in forgetful ness 
Shall lull to sleep of death ; 
In them our God is great. 
In them he grows not old for evermore." 

Its Objective Existence. — This generic or objective 
existence of the moral law is frequently spoken of in the 
Scriptures, in the Psalms, especially in the 119th, and 
in the writings of the Apostle Paul, where the language 
is far from being figurative, and expresses something 
concrete, not abstract. So the unsophisticated people 
understand the Bible. As such the moral law stands 
primarily and immediately in the divine will, as origi- 
nally an idea or thought of God. But he posited or 



256 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

located it in his universe, in humanity, where it has 
nothing between it and its source. It is not derived 
from anything else ; it does not come from the force of 
circumstances. It is not born of blood, nor of the will 
of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. As an 
original and primitive expression of the divine will, it 
is strictly a creation, not a development ; it is a part of 
that creative act of God by which the universe was sum- 
moned into being, and has formed ever since a vital 
part of the world of humanity. 

Its Qualities. — The moral law has two qualities, 
which have both an objective and subjective existence, 
generality or universality, and necessity. 

Its Generality. — In its character as a concrete gen- 
erality it is intended for the whole human race, for all 
possible conditions of human society, for all human 
wills, and is the parental source of all conceivable laws. 
It is here a veritable genus, out of which species or 
classes of laws, or particular laws, take their rise and 
derive their vitality. 

Its Necessity. — As law it has the necessity which is 
inherent in all laws. It cannot be set aside, for it is a 
part of the universe ; one of its main pillars. Man can- 
not flee from it : it follows him wherever he goes, out 
on the ocean and into the wilderness, and makes its 
voice heard, in the storm no less than in solitude. 
Everywhere it speaks as law. It is not a physical ne- 



RAUCH^S CHRISTIAN ETHICS 257 

cessity which is blind and compulsory, but a moral ne- 
cessity. It addresses men universally as a shall or an 
ought ] and so in the case of free agents, it may be vio- 
lated, but never without harm. 

It Becomes Subjective, — When the law thus in its 
generality and necessity enters the human consciousness 
and controls the human will with its free consent, it be- 
comes subjective under both aspects, and for each per- 
sonal being it has actuality. Its necessity becomes lib- 
erty ; and its generality produces fruit on the tree, which 
gives to man the true knowledge of good and evil. 
Then we have true or Christian morality. 

Christian Ethics, — Heathen nations generally have 
regarded the will of their gods as the rule for theii^ ac- 
tions and conduct. Conscience teaches them this. Hence 
their superstitious practices and their great fear of of- 
fending their imaginary deities. Christian people every- 
where regard themselves as amenable to the will of one 
true and living God. All true morality, therefore, con- 
sists in the union or agreement of the human with the di- 
vine will, and the moral law can be nothing but the law 
of God. This is the doctrine of the Bible ; and the science 
of morals can be true only as it is based on the divine 
law. It must, therefore, be Christian Ethics, and take 
for granted that a divine revelation has been made to 
man, such as we find in the Bible. Else in our present 
helpless condition we could not know what the divine 



258 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

will is. A purely speculative system of Ethics — built 
on the pride of human reason — can have only a tran- 
sient value, with little or no authority, whilst one that 
is Christian and biblical may be just as philosophical as 
it is Christian and theological. 

False Theories. — Having established a firm basis for 
all true morality, Dr. Ranch reviews and refutes with 
much critical acumen the systems of Moral Philosophy, 
which he regards as erroneous and contradictory to the 
true interests of morality. Here great confusion ob- 
tains ; one system clashes with the other ; and as a con- 
sequence we have a medley, the inevitable result of a 
departure from first principles, or the harmony of the 
universe which God himself has established. 

Montaigne and others say that education is the prin- 
ciple or germ of morality. But this needs something that 
shall be its ruling power. When it is itself sound, it is 
a hel'p to morality, not a producer. 

Let every one make the general good the principle 
of his life and actions, says Mandeville. That is all 
well enough in its place, and not selfish. It is a lesson 
for statesmen and politicians. But what is the public 
good ? It is an end, a result, something hoped for, which 
a sound morality is to bring about. 

The Eudaemonistic school says that the desire of hap- 
piness or pleasure is a suiBcient guide for the conduct of 
men. Nature herself ought to be sufficient to protect 



rauch's christian ethics 259 

them from what is evil and lead them to what is good. 
Here we have a variety of professed principles, but all 
of them are more or less of a selfish character. The 
Epicureans found their happiness in sensual pleasure, 
and so it is with the Mohammedans. Christian wri- 
ters, who adopt this system, have a higher idea of 
happiness, which they may take from the Bible. Arch- 
deacon Paley, whilst he makes the will of God the 
principle of moral science, says that the desire of eternal 
happiness is the proper motive for our actions. But 
even here the divine will is reduced to a mere guide, 
whilst one's own happiness is the main thing. God 
appears to exact certain duties from men, which they 
perform for their own benefit in another world. This 
cannot be regarded as a pure morality. Happiness is 
the reward of a righteous life, not its life-giving power. 
Paley's principle suits one side of English character, in 
which self is a potent element. 

The Sentimental school, represented by Hutchinson 
and many other benevolently inclined individuals in 
England and elsewhere, bases its philosophy of morals 
on what is called the moral sense. But mere feeling is 
blind or variable, called forth by something external. 
If it is moral, it shows that it has been produced by a 
power beyond itself, and that is just what the moral 
philosopher ought to look after and make prominent. 



260 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

Chancellor Christian Wolf, the disciple and follower 
of Leibnitz, generalized all duties until he found one 
which he supposed involved in it all the rest. He 
said that every man should perfect himself and make this 
the end of his being. As a maxim it is good enough, 
but as such it is a mere abstraction, not a law. It is 
scriptural in sound, without, however, the surroundings 
which it has in Scripture. It is a good rule for one who 
carries in himself already a true moral life. 

The systems of morals thus far considered are su- 
perficial, and fail to build on a solid foundation. They 
lack in true moral earnestness and refute themselves. 
They leave out of view the real character of that power 
which works upon men through their consciences, which 
is something different from mere feeling, sentiment, love 
of pleasure or self-interest, and demands their obedience 
to a law or authority which comes to them from some 
region beyond themselves. But there are two theories 
that differ in this respect from the rest, and are not only 
earnest, but profound. The one was promulgated by 
Zeno in Greece, and the other by Immanuel Kant in 
Germany, in modern times. They differ, but have 
much in common. Both are based on human reason, 
and both go on the supposition that man is suflScient of 
himself to direct his own ways. 

The Stoic Principle. — Under one aspect the Stoics 
did not differ from the Epicureans. " The principle of 



rauch's christian ethics 261 

Epicureanism/^ says Dr. Rauch, "was a refined and 
prudent self-love, which prompted the endeavor to re- 
duce pains and wants to the smallest, and to increase 
pleasures to the highest degree ; to select of all pleas- 
ures those that were the most refined and most durable, 
and always to preserve an unclouded serenity. This 
latter point led to Stoicism : for in order to be cheerful 
constantly, we must feel ourselves entirely independent 
of all things around us, neither fear nor hope too ar- 
dently, but always be ready to resign every wish and 
every possession. A wise man, in their opinion, was 
one, who, free from every fear and hope, free from the 
dominion of every passion, was ever conscious of his 
greatness and felt the highest gratification in viewing 
his own virtues. In these the happiness of man was 
placed. Thus every one was, or ought to be, the au- 
thor of his own fortune during life.^' 

The two systems of morals, which were the pride of 
ancient Greece, had each a philosophy of its own un- 
derlying it ; and these were of an opposite character, the 
one atheistic and the other pantheistic. The Stoic was 
the most philosophical and profound. He regarded na- 
ture as a unity, in which the diversity of phenomena was 
held together by some common tie. Otherwise it could 
not endure ; the parts, must fall asunder and perish. 
Nature itself is this animating principle, the soul of all 
things, the source of all reason and free activity in man. 



262 COLLEGE EECOLLECTIONS 

As the soul of the world, it became deified, a godhead, 
whose body is the universe. Thus the profoundest 
speculations of the Stoics led them into the abyss of 
Pantheism, where the deepest thinkers among men al- 
ways plunge, when they reject or do not possess the light 
of divine revelation. 

According to this view, single objects or things have 
no existence of their own. They are all pervaded with 
the deity. Stars and plants, animals and minerals, are 
animated principles, are a part of God, and their life 
and soul are divine. Man alone becomes conscious of 
this fact, and when he consciously develops all the pos- 
sibilities that slumber within him, he becomes the truly 
wise man. Hence his mission in this world is simply 
"to perfect himself.'^ The end of all wisdom is to real- 
ize the divine nature in ourselves, and then we become 
gods. But such a realization is encompassed with many 
diificulties, partly in ourselves, and partly in nature, 
where we are surrounded on all sides with a world of 
evil. But the true Stoic must not be discouraged or 
appalled. Every effort that he makes to conquer the 
impediments in his way is virtuous, and as he succeeds 
he attains to virtue, which is the true path of human 
life. 

Virtue, although not the end of morality, is valu- 
able in itself ; and it is the means of reaching the grand 
object of human existence, to be as free as God, — and in 



rauch's christian ethics 263 

fact to be His mouth-piece and proper personal repre- 
sentative in the dumb world of nature. Virtue is the 
agreement of our actions with the dictates of reason 
within us; but as this agreement is difficult to bring 
about, it becomes men to show their perseverance and 
resolution in fighting against all obstacles ; and if they 
are not always successful in removing the impediments 
out of their way, they must exercise, in a heroic, Stoic 
sense, patience and endurance. The difficulties which 
they experience in themselves, such as passions or de- 
sires, the true Stoic must surmount or crush by an ef- 
fort of his own will. By thus overcoming the world, 
he imagines that he is supremely happy, exalted far 
above all other men. But he becomes proud, haughty, 
and is not as free as he imagines himself to be. He is 
great in words, but little or nothing in works. He takes 
no interest in the world : his interest centres on that 
lofty consciousness of his divine origin and absolute 
freedom from the cares which disturb other men. The 
world has nothing to offer him, because it is something 
beneath his notice, and when he gets tired of it, he takes 
his own life and retires from it as unworthy of his at- 
tention. It is said that when Zeno broke his little fin- 
ger, he committed suicide. 

Stoicism is a legitimate, logical system, when its 
premises are admitted, but these, as we now know, are 
inadmissible. We have learned better things in the 



264 COLLEGE PwECOLLECTIONS 

school of Christ. It is the conclusion to which all true 
thinking must lead men, when they either do not pos- 
sess, or when they reject the light of divine revelation. 

Kant^s Principle, — In modern times the greatest 
architect of a system of morality by far was Immanuel 
Kant, Professor in the University of Koeuigsberg, Ger- 
many. His theory in substance resembles that of the 
ancient Stoics and in the end comes to the same thing ; 
but it sprung up in the light of Christianity, came from 
one who professed faith in Christianity, and was, in a 
great measure at least, free from the underlying pan- 
theism of the ancient system ; but, as it is based on 
human reason, it is of the same general character as 
those vain efforts, that had gone before, to find a prin- 
ciple which should govern human life and conduct in 
man^s weakness and uncertainty. 

His Categorical Imperative, — It is a special merit in 
Kant's system which raises it immeasurably above other 
systems, that he refers all morality, not to policy, expe- 
diency, happiness, pleasure, or to any motive outside of 
himself in the world of experience, but finds its law 
within, in man himself, not so much in his intellect, as in 
an intuition of human reason, in his conscience, in his 
moral nature. There he hears a voice which commands 
him to do and not to do certain things, and thus to pre- 
serve his moral integrity. It says to him without any 
preliminary consultation with him, "Thou shalt'^ or 



kauch's christian ethics 265 

^^Thou shalt not." This commends itself at first to our 
experience, and meets with a response from our minds. 
Kant calls this a "categorical imperative," an expression 
well chosen, and widely known in the philosophical 
world. 

His Autonomy, — Further, Kant maintains the "au- 
tonomy" of the human will, another expression which has 
become quite famous. By this we are to understand 
that the will has the power, independently of any out- 
side force or influence, of determining itself, or in other 
words, that it is a law to itself, and that there is such a 
thing as the Freedom of the Will. All this savors some- 
what of the old Stoic school, but it contains much that 
is truthful in it. Certainly God formed man for free- 
dom and he wished him to be autonomic, — but exper- 
ience goes to show that he has lost his freedom and with 
it his autonomy. 

Prof. Daub's Critique. — In regard to this point we 
here quote from Professor Karl Daub, the teacher of 
Dr. Ranch at Heidelberg, upon whose system of Theo- 
logical Ethics Dr. Ranch mainly based his lectures. 
Reviewing Kant's theory he thus concludes : 

"It then follows that either Reason gives the moral 
law, or that man gives himself the law for thinking and 
doing by means of his reason. This is autonomy, and 
all the laws must proceed from the reason. Thus two 
propositions present themselves which are opposed to 

18 



266 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

each other : the one is that Reason gives the Law, and 
the other that God gives it. 

"The Bible teaches us that God has given the Law. 
Is it justified in making this assertion ? We have thus 
a dilemma in the two propositions that have just been 
made. If it be true that Reason is the author of the 
Law, then it is not true that God is its giver ; and so 
on the other hand, if He is the author, then it is not 
true that Reason has given it. But only one of these 
two things can be true. Which of them, then, is true? 
The Critical Philosophy has decided in favor of the 
first; but it has sought by a middle way to be in har- 
mony with the second, inasmuch as it concedes, what 
rationalism does not, that a revelation of God and His 
will as the law for men is something possible. But it 
goes no further than this bare concession, and still main- 
tains that reason furnishes the law, and so asserts that 
man needs no revelation. This philosophy may provide 
for itself a way of escape by saying that whilst man by 
his reason gives himself the law, it may also still be said 
that God gives it. This, however, is simply a begging 
of the whole question, for if the view that the law is 
human prevails, then every other view must yield, and 
its divine origin must be ruled out. 

" Reason then is the law-giving power, but that is 
only a phrase, for it is neither a power in itself, nor does 
it possess any power as such. If it be said that man gives 



RAUCH^S CHRISTIAN ETHICS 267 

himself such a power by means of his reason, then the 
law has its power, whatever it possesses, in and through 
man himself, and he is thus almighty. This may be 
illustrated by the story of Samson. The law may be 
represented as the hair of his head, by which man is 
endowed with power, but the harlot, Delilah, which is 
the Critical Philosophy with its rationalism, comes 
along and cuts off the hair. Its character and preten- 
sions are best expressed in the saying that " man is the 
measure of all things." But there is no truth in this 
philosopheme, because man himself stands under a cer- 
tain order, and it is only in this way that he becomes a 
measure for other things." 

On this same subject we quote the following from 
the pen of Dr. Thomas G. Appel, one of the successors 
of Dr. Ranch in the presidency of the college now at 
Lancaster : 

Another Estimate, — " In regard to Kant^s system of 
Ethics, as a whole, we present the general criticism that 
it rises no higher than a pure and lofty legalism, whereas 
a pure morality must rise into the sphere of love. His 
theory of morality is worthy of the dignity of man ; it 
is among the purest and best set forth by philosophers 
of modern times. It shows on every page the influence 
Christianity has exerted upon his conceptions of Chris- 
tianity. And when we say that it ends in pure legal- 
ism, we mean not legalism in the common sense of the 



268 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

word, as signifying obedience to external commands 
merely, for we have seen that this is one of the concep- 
tions of morality that Kant regards as unworthy of the 
dignity of man. His legalism is of a higher character, 
and requires reverence and obedience to the moral law 
as an internal force and authority for man. 

"But lofty as this standard is and worthy of all ad- 
miration, yet it falls short of the highest ideal as repre- 
sented in Jesus Christ. He obeyed the moral law, not 
merely by submission to it as a Categorical Imperative 
from the dictates of conscience, but from the dictate of 
love. He did the will of His Father as His meat and 
drink. His obedience arose above mere conscientious- 
ness ; it did not lose this as something left behind, but 
as subsumed in love. The ideal perfection of all obedi- 
ence is the obedience of love. This ideal it remained 
for Christ to bring into the world, and for Christianity 
to set forth, the principle of divine charity, which comes 
to man only by a new birth from above.^^ 

The Theological Principle, — The first person who 
made the will of God the principle of morality, and at 
the same time the principle of a system of Ethics, in a 
scientific treatise, was A. C. Crusius, professor of phi- 
losoj)hy at the University of Halle, Germany, in the 
early part of the last century, a pious and respected 
Christian divine. His formula was, "do the will of 
God," not that which is pleasing to yourself or to oth- 



RAUCH^S CHRISTIAN ETHICS 269 

ers, but rather that which God commands to be done — 
facias id, quod Deus abs te fieri vult. He was led to 
adopt this principle by his reflection upon the history of 
religion in general. Whether it adopted one God, or 
many gods ; whether the gods were represented under 
gross forms of wood or stone, or in artistic forms as in 
Greece, the people in all cases recognized the will of 
their gods as their law. Even the grossest forms of re- 
ligion among the heathen required that men should sub- 
ject themselves to a divine will as an authority placed 
over them. 

Dr. Ranch, following Professor Daub, adopted this 
as the only true principle on which to construct a sys- 
tem of moral science. It had to be received, however, 
with certain modifications. It may be apprehended in 
a one-sided way and then it leads to a formal, mechani- 
cal obedience, which after all lacks in the vital element 
of a truly moral life. Thus many persons, from vari- 
ous motives, conform their actions to the precepts of the 
Decalogue, and yet fail after all to obey their spirit, 
which is the main thing. It is necessary, therefore, to 
add that the human will should be in conscious har- 
mony with the divine law or will. Else the theory is 
not much better than some of the rest. 

The human will may occupy various relations to the 
divine law, only one of which is the true and normal 
one. Thus, as in the case already mentioned, individu- 



270 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

als may submit to the precepts of the Bible, without 
any special preference or love for them, because they 
fear the consequences of disobedience. Such persons 
may be said to be under the law, and in a certain sense 
in bondage to it. Others, loving their own wills su- 
premely, may despise the divine law and so place them- 
selves above it or against it. The heathen, who know 
nothing of the revealed law of God and are left to the 
light of their own consciences, are neither under nor 
above the law, but are without the law. 

The true relation of the human to the divine will 
has nothing in it of this external character, but is alto- 
gether internal and free. It is realized when the indi- 
vidual can say, as Paul said of himself, 1 Cor. 9 : 21, 
that he is " in the Law to Christ,^^ according to the 
original. Thus it is no longer an external power, but 
the very element or atmosphere in which the will moves 
and acts. It becomes, in the full sense of the word, a 
part of man's being, as it was intended originally to be, 
the free, unfettered power that controls and shapes his 
existence. It is God's will, it is true, but it is man's 
will also. Then when it speaks categorically, it is freely 
obeyed, and the will is autonomic in the good sense of 
the term, fully actualizing the dream of Kant's au- 
tonomy. 

But this relation is not established by stoic pride, 
aor by any eflfort of human wisdom or strength. If 



rauch's christian ethics 271 

realized at all, it must be brought about by such a reno- 
vation of man's nature, as that offered to all alike in the 
Gospel. Thus moral science, in harmony with the mis- 
sion of all the sciences, leads us at once to the feet of 
Christ. 

Oood and Evil. — The end of moral science is the 
Good, of which Dr. Ranch treats in his Ethics, both 
under its objective and subjective forms. As his system 
is Christian, the question. What is the greatest good ? 
is easily answered. It is one that puzzled the old phi- 
losophers, and must continue to puzzle all others who 
reject divine revelation. But the knowledge of the Good 
leads to the knowledge of Evil, of which we can gain no 
knowledge except in the light of the Good. It was the 
order which God established when already in Paradise. 
He sought to teach our first parents there the difference 
between the two by the tree of knowledge of good and 
evil. 

Origin of Evil. — We ought to be satisfied with this 
knowledge, but men wish to know also something about 
the origin of evil, and Dr. Ranch, like other ethical 
writers, had to consider the question in his lectures. 
He reviews the various theories, such as those of Leib- 
nitz and Kant, and shows how unsatisfactory they are. 
He, however, advances no theory of his own, aud this 
is so much the more remarkable, because his preceptor, 
Professor Daub, had written an extensive work on the 



272 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

subject, that made a sensation in Germany. He refutes 
all the theories that profess to have found the origin of 
sin in this world or system of ours. We know that it 
has overtaken us all alike, that it came to us from an- 
other sphere through the agency of a personal being, and 
that is about all that we can know concerning it. It 
is a profound, unfathomable mystery to us. Such was 
the opinion of Dr. Ranch, so far as his lectures express 
any opinion. 

Regeneration. — As a matter of course Christian 
Ethics brings the student to the very vestibule of Christi- 
anity, and Dr. Ranch in his Ethics shows the necessity 
of regeneration and conversion as essential to a true and 
living morality. The provision for such a change he 
finds in the Bible. Thus he expresses himself on this 
subject : 

'^Man is wholly unable to restore a proper relation 
between himself and God, to restore harmony and peace. 
Sin has its root in the will ; and unless it is sanctified. 
Holiness, the soul and substance of religion, will and 
must be absent. But this will can only be sanctified by 
the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.^^ 

"This union is to be produced by a peculiar activity 
of God upon the heart of man. As the light of the sun 
needs no other light to make itself seen or manifest, so 
this activity of God, directed upon the heart, makes it 
certain of its nature. Feelings and knowledge are 
changeable, the heart is permanent.^^ 



CHAPTER X 



Dr. Eauch's Philosophy 

Kant and Hegel. — Dr. Eauch did not originate any 
new system of philosophy, although the system which 
he taught, was new in this country, and led to the for- 
mation of a school that was new. He belonged to the 
spiritual idealistic class of philosophers in Germany, who 
maintained, over against Kant and English philosophers 
generally, that man can have a knowledge of the inner 
substance or nature of things no less than of their out- 
ward phenomena or qualities. Here he stands opposed 
to the school of Mr. Locke, who maintains that in re- 
gard to the substance or essence of things we must be 
content to be agnostics. 

Although he never lectured on Philosophy as such, 
there is a philosophy, as has been truthfully remarked, 
underlying his Psychology, which it is not difficult to 
discover. This work shows indirectly where he stands, 
to witj that he gave to human reason a much wider 
range than that accorded to it by the empiric school 
generally, in this country and in Europe. 

Things. — "The contents of Pure Thinking," he 
says, " are wholly general ; and as such have no exist- 
ence independent of thinking. Yet they truly exist ; 
they are not mere abstractions ; they are the pure being 
and nature of individual things, their soul and life^ 



274 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Every pure thought is a generality, but then it is 
not an abstract but a concrete reality. ^' It exists not 
merely in our thoughts, but equally as much in nature ; 
it is in the sphere of nature the genus ; in the sphere of 
mind the identity ; and in that of science the generality J^ 

Forces. — According to this a created substance or 
thing is a force or power of acting according to a rational 
or intelligent order of existence ; and not, as is generally 
supposed, an inscrutable essence, without inherent qual- 
ities and accidents. Of course, there can then be only 
so many different kinds of substances or things in the 
universe as there are activities. These, as far as ascer- 
tained, are four in number; Man, with consciousness, 
intelligence and will ; the animal world, endowed with 
sensation, but without self-consciousness; \hQ vegetable 
world, with its plastic power, without either feeling or 
reason ; and the mineral world, governed throughout by 
intelligible laws, but without life in the ordinary sense 
of the term. Each of these activities, generically differing 
from one another, is a definite Thought combined with a 
volition of God. The Infinite Mind was in them, and 
the Divine Fiat made them realities. 

A Critique, — Ranch's critic, Dr. Murdock, translator 
of Mosheim's Church History, says that according to 
this, four divine thoughts, combined with divine volitions, 
constitute the entire created universe. Of course they 
do, as they unfold themselves in their multiplicity. 



eauch's philosophy 275 

They possess in themselves potentially all the requisite 
power to project upon the fields of space a universe as 
large and diversified as ours ; and one even more widely 
extended, if it had been deemed necessary. Of course 
this does not include sin and Satan, which are foreigners 
in this world of ours. But then the same critic says, it 
follows that " God and His thoughts are all that exist or 
have any being/^ That is also true, provided we under- 
stand that God's thoughts are not our thoughts, that 
they are creatures, endowed with energies sufficient to 
form such a creation as ours. What more can a reason- 
able person wish for in his conception of this outward 
universe of ours ? This view dispenses with " an inscru- 
table essence,'^ and certain other ghostly abstractions 
with which its caves and caverns have been filled by 
philosophers, but that is just what it ought to do. Then 
the critic above mentioned somewhat sceptically adds 
that it would follow that " God and His thoughts are all 
that exists or have any being.'' But again we add that 
nothing more is needed land ought not to be required. 
The best scientists in our days are beginning to regard 
matter as force, or a congeries of forces, and they are 
doubtless correct. It is, therefore, not erroneous to say 
that God and His thoughts — or forces in full play — 
alone have existence or being. But now let us hear 
what Dr. Ranch has to say for himself on this matter — 
in his Psychology. 



276 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Philosophemes. — " Most of us are in the habit of 
considering nature and its manifold process as a mechan- 
ical whole, whose parts have been brought together by 
some mechanic, and whose powers exist side by sidcy 
without having any affinity to, or connection with each 
other/' This is the view of the empirical school, to 
which Dr. Murdock belongs, of whose defects he was 
not unconscious." 

"But the opposite of all this is the case. Nature is 
a system^ not a conglomeration ; alive and active in all 
its elements and atoms; it is filled with powers, froip the 
mechanical, chemical, magnetic, and galvanic, up to the 
organic, all of which flow invisibly into each other, affect 
and determine each other. Eternal laws dwell in them, 
and provide that while these powers receive and work 
with and through each other none interferes with the 
other or in any degree changes its nature, but supports 
and upholds it. Thus we have a constant life ; powers 
flow up and down, to andfro^ 

All life, wherever it exists, is formed and organ- 
ized. Form is not and cannot be the result of mat- 
ter, which is chaotic and shapeless. Form in man, 
and throughout the universe, is the result of thought. 
Hence life, being formed, does not proceed from matter; 
but is a thought of God, accompanied by the divine will, 
to be realized in nature, and to appear externally by an 
organized body." 



rauch's philosophy 277 

"As the thought gives the form, so the divine will, 
resting in the thought, and inseparably united with it, 
works as power and law in all nature." 

" The animal, with its members and senses, what 
else can it be but a divine thought exhibited in an exter- 
nal form ?" 

"The soul of man is likewise a divine thought, a crea- 
tion of God, filled with powers to live an existence of 
its own. It contains in its simple, identical activity, all 
that appears afterwards, under the form of faculties. 
They are but the development of the energies of the 
soul.'^ 

"Reason has not its origin in itself; its author is 
God, whose will lives in it as its law." 

'^ Man is soul only, and cannot be anything else. 
This soul, however, unfolds itself externally in the life 
of the body, and internally in the life of the mind. Two- 
fold in its development, it is one in origin, and the cen- 
tre of this union is one personality.'^^ 

" The particles of the body are not all a part of man ; 
they are dust, and only their connection and the life con- 
necting them, is truly human." 

"It is not nature nor matter that produces person- 
ality, but God, who is the ground of all personality. 
We can know a thing thoroughly only when we are ac- 
quainted with its ground. — So man must know God be- 
fore he can become truly acquainted with himself." 



278 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Transcendental. — Dr. Murdock, judging Dr. Rauch 
from the philosophical utterances given above, says that 
he is a Transcendentalist and a Pantheist of the School 
of Hegel, if he does not entirely misunderstand him, as 
he says. 

Differing from the empirical school as it respects the 
extent of human knowledge already referred to, in a 
good sense of the term, he was a Transcendentalist, and 
manifestly transcends the philosophy of Kant. 

No Pantheist. — But it is quite a mistake, such as 
Dr. M. supposes he might be making, to put him among 
German Pantheists. In the quotations given above, he 
asserts distinctly the existence of secondary causes, which 
sets aside all pantheistic conceptions of God. For a good 
reason he denominates them as expressions of divine 
thoughts and volitions, which everybody except the 
atheist must admit. In this way the immanence of God 
in his creatures is maintained as well as his transcen- 
dence. In the empirical philosophy the former is too 
often overlooked, and therefore, when not properly em- 
phasized, it leads to materialism, infidelity and atheism, 
as Dr. Murdock freely admits. See his small volume 
on "Modern Philosophy.^' 

Two Extremes. — Two extremes are here to be guarded 
against, atheism as well as pantheism. The Scripture 
tells us where the truth lies, when it says that God or 
Christ was before all things, that of or from Him, in 



rauch's philosophy 279 

Him, by or through Him, and /or Him, all things were 
created, and that now in Him all things consist or stand 
together. See Rom. 11 : 37 and Col. 1 : 16, 17. Such 
expressions must always sound like Pantheism to all 
materialists, and to empirical philosophers also — if they 
are not on their guard. But they are scriptural and 
true, nevertheless. 

An Orthodox Philosopher. — From his conversations^ 
lectures and sermons. Dr. Ranch made the impression 
on the minds of his students that he had brought with 
him to this country an orthodox evangelical faith, and 
the inference is that Dr. Murdock ^^ entirely misunder- 
stood him," which he regards as possible when he says 
that he was a pantheist. He received his philosophical 
training in Germany when Hegel was in the ascendant, and 
was still regarded as orthodox and evangelical. Daub, 
his professor, was a Hegelian on the orthodox side. He 
had mastered successively the systems of Kant, Schel- 
ling, Fichte, and lastly that of Hegel. In passing from 
one system to another, his faith in Christianity, as a di- 
vine system of religion, never wavered. "As a theolo- 
gian,'^ says Tholuck, "from the commencement of his ac- 
tivity as a writer, in the sphere of divinity, to the end 
of his life, he kept himself perpetually on the heights of 
bis time, through all its epochs.'' Rosenkranz calls him 
a "genuine Church Father of Protestant Theology.'' 
And he adds that "as no theologian was more orthodox 



280 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

than he, so no one could be held to be, in the true force 
of the word, more rationalistic/^ 

Dr. Ranch was a philosopher and theologian of this 
pattern. He had studied the great philosophers just 
mentioned, understood them, in their strength and 
weakness, and appreciated them, without committing 
himself to their errors or extravagances. The practical 
religious atmosphere of this country had much to do in 
purifying and elevating his faith. His character as a 
philosopher and a man is justly given on his monument, 
where he is tersely described as a '' Christian Philoso- 
pher.'' 

The Hegelian School. — As Dr. Murdock calls Dr. 
Rauch a Hegelian, it may be proper for us to define his 
position with regard to the Hegelian system, more par- 
ticularly in regard to its excesses. He received his phi- 
lisophical training, when the systems of Kant, Fichte 
and Schelling were waning and Hegel appeared above the 
horizon as an intellectual star of surpassing brilliancy. 
His teachers were of the better class of Hegelians, who 
never surrendered their faith in divine revelation or the 
Bible, and, when it is said that he graduated in the 
school of Hegel, it is implied that he received his honors 
when philosophical culture had made its highest flights 
and sounded its profoundest depths, whether in ancient 
or modern times. Rauch, however, as known to those 
most intimately acquainted with him, could be a Hege- 



rauch's philosophy 281 

lian, if he was one at all, oaly in a modified form. He 
never for a moment plunged in(o that vortex of intel- 
lectualism during this new dispensation of philosophic 
illu minis m, in which so many gifted, although one-sided 
disciples of Hegel, sacrificed their religion and common 
sense, against which Neander utters earnest warnings to 
his fatherland. We here notice some of the more salient 
points of difference between the philosophy taught at 
Mercersburg, and that which often goes under the title 
of the Hegelian philosophy. 

Nature. — The first point concerns the significance of 
the natural world. The materialistic philosophy tends 
to make a god of it, and gives it an extravagant degree 
of importance, whilst it treats everything beyond or 
transcending it as nothing better than dream-land. 
Abused it lands its disciples in infidelity or down-right 
atheism. Idealists on the other hand, from choice or in 
the way of retaliation, disparage it, or like Hegel, treat 
it with irreverence and contempt, and often find no rest 
until they plunge into the abyss of pantheism, where 
there is neither God nor nature. Dr. Eauch avoided 
both of these extremes. He regarded nature as a crea- 
tion of God, full of divine thoughts, the type and shadow 
of better things, and consequently possessing an elevated 
spiritual character. 

Man. — In the next place Ranch diverged from all 
ultra Hegelians as it regards the conception of Man. 
19 



282 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

They deified the human reason, and atheistically main- 
tained that the Deity became self-conscious only in the 
human reason ; of course they deny the separate person- 
ality of God, and know of no higher form of the divine 
existence than as it unfolds itself in the finite personality 
of man. Ranch had an elevated view of human destiny 
and placed man at the apex of nature, as its sovereign 
and lord. But then as he has in a great measure lost 
the substance of this sovereignty by his fall into sin, he 
must now regain it by a process of redemption. Occu- 
pying this position in the natural order, he can with 
the divine help hold intercourse with the supernatural 
world and enter into communion with God. But with 
all this, man is farther removed from an equality with 
God than he is exalted above nature. 

God, — The difference, lastly, showed itself in the 
highest of all articles of faith, which concerns the maj- 
esty and glory of God. As the philosophy of Locke 
and Bacon, in bad hands, ran out into materialism, infi- 
delity and atheism, so German philosophy with its ideal- 
ism, especially in the Hegelian branch of it, produced re- 
sults just as monstrous, landing its followers in pantheism 
and open unbelief. It was natural that this should be 
so, because all speculations, which do not admit the 
central significance of Christianity, tend towards these 
results. The profoundest of them, as they arose suc- 
cessively in Germany, foundered upon the same rock. 



rauch's philosophy 283 

Rauch escaped such intellectual shipwreck by allowing 
the contents of divine revelation to occupy their proper 
place in his system of thinking. From his point of 
view Christianity not only challenged the attention of 
the philosopher as all other facts do, but as the control- 
ling fact in the world^s history. 

Dr, Ranches Standpoint — A clear conception of Dr. 
Ranch's standpoint in regard to Christianity is here 
given in the language of Dr. Gerhart in the introduc- 
tion to his volume on Dr. Ranch's discourses, to be no- 
ticed hereafter. 

"A clear conception of the Divine personality of 
Jesus Christ, in His vital relation to the doctrines and 
precepts of Christianity, gave a distinctive tone to all 
his discourses. Although the determining influence of 
his philosophical thinking upon the order of discussion 
and upon his views of Divine truth, is always seen and 
felt, yet the recognition of Jesus Christ as the true God, 
as the only way of salvation, and of the sacred Scrip- 
tures as alone possessing normal authority for faith and 
practice, reigns supreme in all, and gives them an emi- 
nently Christian and practical character, as distinguished 
from vapid sentimentalism on the one hand, and ration- 
alistic speculation on the other." — Dr. Ranch's religious 
life was based on the Heidelberg Catechism, which he 
used to describe in a few words as " An answer to the 
question. What must I do to be saved ?" 



CHAPTER XI 



Sermons and Death of Dr. Rauch 

Sermons 

Dr. Rauch was accustomed to preach in his turn in 
the Chapel, and his sermons were listened to with much 
attention. They were generally short, characterized 
with simplicity, pervaded with an earnest Christian 
spirit, and intended for the edification of his hearers, 
mostly the students. They embodied comparatively 
little speculation of any kind, and betray the philosopher 
only in the nice distinctions which they make in the 
faculties and affections of the human mind. Dr. E. V. 
Gerhart, who was one of the students from the begin- 
ning of his course in the High School at York to the 
close of his studies in the Seminary, made a selection of 
his sermons, edited and published them in 1856 in a 
volume under the title : " The Inner Life of the Christ- 
ian.^^ The book was an accession to the literature of 
the Church, and has been read with profit and edifica- 
tion by Christians generally. We here make a few ex- 
tracts which exhibit the general character and spirit of 
the discourses. 

Reason. — " It is reason which makes man the lord 
of the earth and renders him the most wonderful of all 
creatures. It is reason that leads off the lightning from 



SERMONS ANI> DEATH OF DR. RAUCH 285 

our houses, that makes the ocean yield its tribute, that 
governs the elements, and renders what in itself is aw- 
ful and destructive, useful to man. It is reason that 
measures the distances and dimensions of the stars of 
heaven, that foretells the regular return of the seasons, 
and sinking itself into its own unfathomable depth, con- 
structs systems of science, discovers the secrets of na- 
ture, and with the wings of Daedalus finds its way out 
of every labyrinth to the centre of light. But every- 
thing has its two sides. The same reason, which is so 
wonderful in itself and does such wonderful things, in a 
state of nature, labors only for our own interests, for the 
gratification of our depraved desires and passions." 

Faith, — "Faith is that power which connects Heaven 
and earth, the Creator and the creation ; to the believer, 
it is a messenger from God to the soul, a bringer of eter- 
nal life, a torch in the darkness of his earthly pilgrim- 
age, a guide to Heaven. This power we have when we 
feel the connection between Heaven and earth, between 
our Creator and ourselves, the Visible and the Invisi- 
ble; when deeply feeling our depravity, we long after 
purity and holiness, and after the way that leads to both. 

"We believe in God, because the Spirit of Truth has 
operated upon us, and constrained us to acknowledge a 
Creator of the universe and a Ruler over our lives. 
And so we believe in Christ, because He offers what we 
need ; because by his righteousness and passion He has 



286 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

secured to us reconciliation with God ; because He has 
given us the peace we have not, and the salvation which 
we sought for in vain ; because in Him true light, life, 
grace and truth appear ; because we know His voice and 
understand it ; because we know that He is the good 
Shepherd, that knows His own and is known of them, 
for whom He laid down His life that they might live 
through Him. We believe in Him, because His Truth 
refreshes, comforts, cheers and consoles us ; for it teaches 
us that there is a God, a Creator, a Preserver, and Ru- 
ler, and an eternal Judge of the world, and an eternal 
home of happiness and bliss. — Reason and Truth are 
not opposed to each other ; each has its appropriate 
sphere : they oppose each other only when a corrupt 
heart undertakes to model them according to its de- 
sires/^ 

The Visible and the Invisible. — "Since Christ, the 
centre both of the visible and invisible worlds, descended 
with the fulness of revelation, the celestial regions have 
been open in a higher sense than when angels came 
down and appeared to men, and they will forever re- 
main open, to the spiritual eye of the Christian. But 
this connection does not exist for the senses nor for the 
sensuous man ; and whilst no advantage can be discov- 
ered, if it did exist, we may see the goodness of God in 
not having permitted it. For if it were possible, what 
the imagination of all ages has so beautifully repre- 



SERMONS AND DEATH OF DR. RAUCH 287 

sented, that the perfect spirits of higher regions could 
visit our earth as apparitions of light and then return 
through the other into their habitations, what great con- 
fusion would this magic connection cause in the world ? 
Would not every sudden flash of light, every unex- 
pected motion of the air, every shadow in the twilight 
of the evening, every imaginary figure of our dreams at 
midnight, excite our nerves and fill our breasts with 
fear and anxiety ? Would not the desponding look con- 
stantly for apparitions, and forget that their duty is to 
live, to labor, and to be useful ? Would such a connec- 
tion not retard the current of our activity, transform the 
diligent man into an idle dreamer, dissolve the ties of 
society, and afford to every imposter the means of de- 
ception ? The superstitious belief in a visible connec- 
tion of this world with another, and in the apparitions 
of ghosts, has been great at all times ; and there have 
always been some who were ready to enter into a league 
with that dark and mysterious region, to conjure its 
inhabitants by secret arts, and charge them to assist 
their evil designs, their desire for riches and power. 
There have been others, from time to time, since the 
resurrection of Christ, who have pretended to be the 
sons of God, or to be favored with a peculiar inspiration, 
and to bring new messages from heaven. Considering 
all this, we say, it is well that no sensuous connection 
exists between the Visible and Invisible, between Chri t 
and His followers." 



288 COLLEGE EECOLLECriONS 

The Presence of the Spirit, — " He is present with us, 
when we perceive an important truth, when we indulge 
in serious meditation, when we give ear to the voice of 
conscience, when our feelings are softened, when we 
shrink from sinning, or when our hearts glow with un- 
common zeal for the work of God. It is the Lord that 
speaks to us through a book, that edifies through a 
friend, that gives advice through the word of a stranger, 
that attracts our attention and influences the current of 
our thoughts through the innocence of a child, whose 
simplicity puts our wisdom to confusion, whose cheer- 
fulness beguiles our melancholy, and whose peace and 
tranquility unlock to us the Paradise of those that 
believe and do not doubt. The Lord approaches our 
hearts by wants and by blessings, by days of joy and 
by nights of sorrow, by meetings and by separations, by 
the small occurrences of the family, and by the fate of 
nations. We see Him in the constitution of our govern- 
ment, in the spirit of our laws, in the morals of society, 
in the institutions of learning, in all the views, princi- 
ples, and undertakings of our age. No journey is 
necessary to be with Him, no money to be admitted into 
His presence, no splendid dress to walk by His side : 
wherever we may be, if we have eyes to perceive Him, 
and ears to hear Him, a heart to love Him, and a 
desire to meet Him, there He is with us. Every act of 
devotion in the temple of God, every feeling of delight 



SERMONS AND DEATH OF DR. RAUCH 289 

that trembles in the bosom at His holy altar, every ray 
of light that sinks from the Bible into the heart, every 
sermon that entreats us to repent and accept of the sal- 
vation offered by Christ; whatever speaks to us in 
nature — sunset and sunrise. Spring by its new creations, 
Summer by its sheaves, Autumn by its ripened fruits, 
and Winter by its tranquility and repose — all tell us 
that the Lord is near us. As we are surrounded by the 
air of heaven, so are believers surrounded on all sides 
visibly and invisibly by the Spirit of the Lord. What 
is all the knowledge of the earth, all the wisdom of rea- 
son, compared with the conviction, that the Lord is 
with us !" 

Infidelity, — " It is still worse when reason becomes so 
perverted as to scoff at the truths of religion. Lucian 
wielded all the weapons of sarcasm and wit against the 
Greek superstition skilfully, and many have attacked 
the Christian religion with similar weapons. But whilst 
Lucian succeeded, they have failed ; the caustic rays of 
their wit have been reflected back upon themselves, like 
arrows upon the breast of the archer. The reason is 
manifest. True wit must always stand far above that 
on which it pours its shafts. Now, he that would ex- 
pose the Christian religion to ridicule must stand above 
and beyond divine wisdom. Hence none of those who 
have attempted to destroy the confidence of Christians 
by ridiculing their doctrines have succeeded. They may 



290 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

have scoffed at their own notions of these doctrines, but 
the doctrines themselves, the truth contained in them, 
their wit could not reach. Their sarcasm almost uni- 
versally recoiled upon themselves, and the proverb could 
be applied : He that laughs last, laughs best, Hobbes — 
to give an instance or two — during the day ridiculed the 
idea that there is a God, but when night came he was 
so much afraid of ghosts that he dared not to sleep 
alone. A celebrated physician, who frequently laughed 
at the doctrine of the soul and its immortality, when 
lying sick of the gout, employed a conjurer to exorcise 
the demons from his limbs.^^ 

Declining Health, — Dr. Ranch published his work 
on Psychology in 1840, and seemed to be cheered with 
the prospect of a literary career in the future. He had 
already been gathering and arranging his material for a 
work on Ethics, which he was anxious to bring out in 
the interest of literature. As he had been lecturing on 
the subject for a number of years, he was prepared to 
reduce his matter to a form suitable for the press, with 
little delay, and to get out the work during the course 
of the next Summer. In a letter to his friend. Dr. 
Nevin, in the fall of 1840, he thus expresses himself: 
^^The most agreeable hope animates me, meanwhile, 
that the goodness of the Lord will again restore me to 
health, and give me new strength, to labor with you, 
my dear friend, for a great and noble object. To this I 



SERMONS AND DEATH OF DR. RAUCH 291 

wish to consecrate what remains of my life, that I may- 
go hence as a true servant of the Lord. — My " Christian 
Ethics^^ have occupied me very pleasantly, on my whole 
journey. The plan of the work now lies before me, 
clear and distinct, as a whole with all its joints and 
limbs, like a transparent crystal. All the transitions 
show themselves plainly ; so that if I were a painter, to 
drajv the whole out, like a picture, it would appear to 
all, not as a compositionj but as a living organism, which 
being animated with one idea, throws off everything 
that does not belong to it by its own life. The thought, 
that it has fallen to me as my lot, by divine direction, 
as it would seem, to present the English literature with 
some of the great views and ideas of the noble German 
spirit, raises me, and imparts to my being a value not 
previously known .^^ 

It seems that he had in mind a series of works, which 
required that the one work should be followed by the 
other, so that the whole might appear in its proper 
light. His treatise on Ethics, accordingly, was to be 
followed by one on Aesthetics. When all should ap- 
pear, he expected to see his first production in its true 
character. But, alas, man proposes, whilst God dis- 
poses. 

Death and Funeral. 

His physical strength had been gradually failing 
him ; at York as well as at Mercersburg he had severely 



292 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

taxed his energies ; and the effort to get out his Psychol- 
ogy probably drew too heavily on his reserved strength. 
In the fall he took his place in the class-room, and 
taught us Psychology, but notwithstanding his enthu- 
siasm in his work it was too evident that he was over- 
doing himself. When he could no longer come over 
and hear us recite in his recitation room, he called us 
to his study, where he taught us as he reclined on his 
cot-bed. The week in which he proposed to begin his 
cherished work on Ethics, he was compelled to take 
his bed from which he never arose. The students 
watched with him tenderly, but were not apprehensive 
of a fatal result. He was submissive, and to a friend 
remarked that on his sick-bed he had given up all 
speculations and found it better to exercise a simple 
faith in Christ. He most probably expected to recover, 
as did his friends ; but to our surprise and consterna- 
tion, in the early dawn the watchers returned to their 
rooms and reported that he was dead ! It was a fearful 
shock. It probably could not have been more so, if we 
had heard of the death of one of our own parents. Few 
of us knew how much we were attached to him ; few of 
us also had become aware that we had such a great man 
in Israel, until he was fallen. 

All College exercises were suspended for several 
days, and the students sat about sadly in small groups, 
conversing in low tones of voice about their great loss. 



SERMONS AND DEATH OF DR. RAUCH 293 

When the funeral was to take place many of the friends 
of the College, came from a distance. The Elders and 
Trustees from Chambersburg were there, and spoke with 
tears in their eyes of this sad visitation of divine Provi- 
dence. It was cheerless winter, in the month of Feb- 
ruary, and the skies, which were of a leaden hue, seemed 
to sympathize with the occasion, and as we approached 
the grave, in a gentle shower of rain, to shed its own 
drops of grief. He was buried on the College grounds, 
in the midst of a grove, where the winds during winter 
and summer, blowing mournfully through the trees, 
sang his sad requiem. 

On the Sunday following Dr. Nevin delivered a 
discourse in the Chapel appropriate to the occasion. It 
was, as he said, quite easy to descant poetically on the 
transitoriness of human life and the vanity of eaithly 
things, but mere sentiment was not what this visitation 
of Providence called for. It challenged us all to con- 
sider earnestly the momentous issues of life and death, 
and as a pledge of our earnestness in the matter to seek 
to live well, so that we might die with a blessed assur- 
ance of a blissful hereafter. By request of the Board of 
Trustees, he pronounced the funeral Eulogium at the end 
of the term, and seldom has such a duty fallen to the 
lot of any speaker, where it was better discharged. The 
eulogy, reminding us of the lament of David over the 
death of his brother Jonathan, abounds in many beauti- 



294 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

ful and striking passages, and in graphic language gives 
a history of the life and work of the deceased. Mr. G. 
W. Welker, a member of the Seminary, and a student 
of Dr. Rauch^s, also delivered an address to one of the 
Societies, in which with much aflPection and feeling he 
pays a just tribute of respect to the memory of his hon- 
ored teacher. The other Society put on its minutes a 
high estimate of the worth of their teacher and of its 
great loss in his death. 

After the removal of the College, the remains of Dr. 
Ranch were brought to Lancaster and now lie interred 
in the Lancaster Cemetery. The Alumni Association 
undertook to erect a suitable monument, in which they 
were assisted by the Reformed Synod, which appointed 
several persons to co-operate with the Association. Rev. 
Dr. J. O. Miller of York was chairman of this commit- 
tee, and the plan and symbols of the monument are 
largely due to his good taste. It stands not far from 
the entrance to the College campus, surrounded with 
trees, correct in its design and chaste in its proportions, 
in its own silent way teaching all alike lessons of wisdom 
and truth. His best monument, however, is to be found 
in the foundations which he laid and in the works of 
his life. 



CHAPTER XII 



Doctor Nevin 

As already intimated, the history of the Seminary 
at Mercersburg for the first four or five years must have 
been very much unsettled, and in an unsatisfactory con- 
dition. Dr. Williard, one of the students at the time, 
thus expresses himself : " My course in the Seminary 
was very unsatisfactory. For one year I had Dr. Mayer 
for my instructor; six months, Dr. Ranch ; and for six 
months, Dr. Nevin. The first year was largely one of 
discussions in regard to some of the doctrinal views of 
Dr. Mayer, which led to his resignation. My studies 
during the last year were confined mainly to Dick's 
Lectures on Theology. And yet imperfect as my course 
was, owing to the small teaching force in the Seminary, 
there are many things that I recollect with pleasure ; 
and there is much for which I feel thankful to my in- 
structors.'^ 

The Election of Dr. Nevin. — After several ineffect- 
ual efforts to secure an additional teacher, a special meet- 
ing of the Synod was convened at Chambersburg in 
midwinter of the year 1840, for the purpose of electing 
another professor in the Seminary. The attendance was 
not very large, but it was composed of earnest and sin- 
cere men, who had come together to do their duty, and 



296 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

to make the best provision which they could for the 
wants of the institution. Dr. J. W. Nevin, Professor 
in the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, 
Pa., w^as finally elected without any opposition, and in 
the end with a considerable degree of unanimity of feel- 
ing. The late Dr. S. R. Fisher knew him, and, as he 
used to say, under a sort of inspiration, felt impelled, 
young as he was, to urge the Synod by all means to ap- 
point him as professor, as a very suitable person in the 
circumstances to fill the vacancy in the Seminary. He 
was a new man to most of the members of the Synod, 
but he was among the few English theologians of that 
day that had mastered the German language, and he 
had, moreover, expressed himself in terms of the high- 
est respect for German theology and learning. Dr. D. 
H. Riddle of Pittsburg spoke in strong terms of his 
abilities, adding, however, that he had "a dash of Ger- 
man Transcendentalism about him,^' which to our Ger- 
man ministers had nothing very objectional in it. Mrs. 
Dr, Schneck, an intelligent lady in Chambersburg, who 
also knew him, gave a very flattering account of him, of 
his abilities and spirit. The members of the Synod 
knew comparatively little about him, except what they 
learned of him through his Biblical Antiquities, which 
were in most of our Sunday-schools, but they gradually 
began to think that he was the person pointed out by 
Providence for the vacancy in the Seminary, and in due 
time gave him a cordial support. 



DOCTOR NEVIN 



297 



His Appearance. — Dr. Nevin entered upon his du- 
ties in the Seminary in the Spring of 1840. He was 
then a little over thirty-seven years old, but everything 
about him, with the exception of his dark, black hair, 
indicated a person of a much greater age. His face was 
marked with the deep lines of thought, and his gait was 
that of a person who had been accustomed to carry 
heavy burdens. 

His first introduction to the students was in the pul- 
pit of the Chapel on Sunday. His discourse was off- 
hand, of more than ordinary length, and in most re- 
spects presented marked points of contrast with those 
that we were accustomed to hear. It was earnest, sol- 
emn, and much more intellectual than emotional. It 
was evident that he was an original character ; but it 
was not certain at once whether his originality would 
interest us or not. It was in fact difficult for many of 
us to follow him in his severe logical reasonings, or to 
resist a tendency to drowsiness before he came to his 
application. But Dr. Ranch soon found out what was 
in the man, and the discovery filled him w^ith enthusi- 
asm. When he appeared before us in class on Monday 
morning, he usually had something to say about the dis- 
course, if Dr. Nevin had preached the Sunday before. 
He seemed to be overpowered with pleasure in having 
such a person in the institution. He was a real thinker, 
he said, and it was doubtful whether he had his supe- 
20 



298 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

rior in the United States. He had not yet met with 
any one that was his superior. In a letter to Rev. A. 
H. Kremer, dated June 8, 1840, he wrote : "I am very 
much pleased with Dr. Nevin. He is a noble and 
learned man. The students are likewise much satisfied.^' 

His InauyuraL — Dr. Nevin was not long at Mer- 
cersburg before he was inducted into his office, on which 
occasion he delivered an inaugural address, which was 
one of characteristic ability and breadth of thought. It 
defined clearly his position. It opens with the follow- 
ing language ; 

"The institution of the Christian Ministry stands 
foremost in importance, among the arrangements in 
which the welfare of life, in its proper civilized form, 
is found to depend. No other enters so deeply and 
steadily into the inward, moral economy of society ; 
none links itself more vitally with all the radical inter- 
ests of the individual and all the primary necessities of 
the State.'' 

This thought he expands into a full discussion of the 
nature, claims and grandeur of the sacred office. — These 
thoughts arrested the attention of the Rev. Dr. F. W. 
Krummacher, who read them after he was called by the 
Synod to the German professorship in the Seminary at 
Mercersburg, and determined in his own mind the ques- 
tion whether he ought to remain in the pastoral work or 
go to America. 



DOCTOR NEVIN 299 

In the concluding part of the discourse the new Pro- 
fessor defines his position, and gives his views of the 
peculiar work and mission of the Church in which he 
was called to take part. For an English American he 
speaks kindly of the German character and mind, and 
encouragingly of the mission of the German churches iu 
this country. He thus expresses himself, once and for 
all, in regard to their proper line of duty, so that no 
persons could misunderstand him : 

"Are our German churches then ready to merge 
themselves in the religious systems of England and 
Scotland, on this side of the Atlantic ? Or are they will- 
ing generally to have their pulpits supplied from abroad, 
if the thing were proposed ; or to see even their own 
missionary ground wrested from their hands, and made 
to ^ blossom like the rose,' by a different agency, when 
it should be their ambition, as it is their solemn trust to 
accomplish it themselves T^ 

"In view of all this, however, I do not hesitate to 
say that the German Reformed Church ought not to 
think of laying aside her distinct national character, and 
merging herself in a foreign interest. Nothing is clearer 
than the fact, that the people generally have not the 
I least idea of thus quitting their national position at the 
present ; but independently of this I would say that 
the thing itself is not to be desired, and if any disposi-" 
tion of this sort did exist it ought not to be encouraged.^' 



300 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

These were brave words, and they showed the candor 
and honesty of the man. He puts the question fairly 
and squarely before the Church : Whether it wished to 
remain what it was and grow in its own historical life, 
or to become something else ? If the latter was the 
answer, then it would be better to act consistently, dis- 
band, and unite with other religious interests, and so 
diminish the number of religious denominations. But 
if the former was the response, then it was incumbent 
on the Church to go to work and do its duty to Christ, 
to itself, and to the world. Among our people and 
ministers, however, there was only one reply. As be- 
fore, so it was now their wish to be true to their history, 
and to do the work w^hich God had given them to do in 
the making of history. It was a plain case : if Dr. 
Nevin had taken any other course in the circumstances, 
he would have mistaken his calling, been shorn of his 
strength, created divisions in the Church, and accom- 
plished little or nothing useful. His straight-forwardness 
created some surprise, it is true, on the outside, where 
it was thought that he had missed his opportunity of 
bringing his own church into some closer connection 
with the English churches ; but such persons stood off at 
too great a distance and could not see as well as he the 
situation of affairs in the inside of the Church. The 
Doctor was right, guided by a clear insight into the 
peculiar character of his calling. 



DOCTOR NEVIN 301 

President of Marshall College. — Dr. Nevin was a very- 
quiet, silent man in his ways. The College students saw 
very little of him, and, until after the death of Dr. 
Eauch, would have scarcely known that he was in town, 
if they had not seen and heard him on Sundays. After 
the death of Dr. Ranch in 1841, he was called to accept 
the position of President of the Institution, which he 
declined ; he, however, consented to take charge of its 
interests temporarily, in connection with his duties in the 
Seminary, provided the Trustees and friends of the Col- 
lege would exert themselves to endow it more fully, so 
that it might be able to sustain a president and full 
faculty. He agreed to serve as president for the time 
being, without compensation ; and as there were some 
funds on hand, he urged the Board to fill the vacant 
chair of the Natural Sciences with a competent person, 
which was accomplished without delay, as we have al- 
ready shown. 

By the addition of a new professor, the faculty, with 
Dr. Nevin at its head, became stronger than it was be- 
fore, and at once the College began to rally from the loss 
it had sustained by the death of its first honored presi- 
dent. Efforts, and earnest ones also, were made to en- 
dow the institution, so that a scholar like Dr. Ranch 
might be put in his place, but they were only partially 
successful. The Institution itself prospered, kept up 
respectable appearances, and enjoyed the confidence of 



302 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

the Church aud the community. But back of the fair 
show there was a financial spectre, that appeared once a 
year when the Trustees met, and haunted the mind of 
the head of the institution all the year through, which 
could not be put down at his or any one eWs bidding. 
Accordingly Dr. Nevin, who expected to be relieved of 
his college duties in a few years at the farthest, re- 
mained at the head of the institution until its removal 
to Lancaster in 1853. It was necessary for him to do 
so in order to keep it afloat. Earnest appeals were made, 
but with only partial and insuflScient results. Matters 
even grew worse. In 1850 the finances of the College 
were not sufficient to support the faculty any longer. 
The chair of Mathematics had to be vacated, and to be 
provided for in some other more economical way. It 
was not strange, therefore, that the hardworking Presi- 
dent, when his system was broken down and he did not 
expect to live much longer, hailed the day when a way 
was opened at Lancaster to place the College on a more 
permanent foundation by its union with Franklin Col- 
lege. The history is instructive throughout, but it is 
our province here only to sketch its beginnings. 

When Dr. Ranch fell at his post, the loss to the Col- 
lege seemed to be one that could not in the circumstan- 
ces be remedied. But it was not so. The difficulty 
was to secure a person who was qualified to take up the 
work where Dr. Ranch had left it, and carry it forward 



DOCTOR NEVIN 303 

in the spirit in which it was conceived. This was a 
necessity for the healthy growth of the young institu- 
tion. But where was such a person to be found ? Not 
in Germany, but in this country, and in Mercersburg 
itself. Providence had provided for this emergency 
before it occurred. 

His Gifts, — Dr. Nevin possessed a number of quali- 
fications which fitted him preeminently to fill the place 
vacated by Dr. Ranch. He had a philosophic mind of 
a high order. With his prevailing spiritual tendencies 
he probably never had felt himself at home in the 
School of Locke or Paley, much less in the materialistic 
school generally. He had already been attracted by the 
deeper and profounder philosophy of Germany. Natu- 
rally he inclined towards the spiritual school. He was 
therefore prepared to take Dr. Ranches place and to carry 
forward the good work which he had commenced. In 
his instructions he began at the point in Psychology and 
Ethics, where Dr. Ranch had left oif, and proved him- 
self an able commentator and elucidator of these sci- 
ences. Moreover, in the course of time he became much 
more than an expositor. He thoroughly mastered the 
subjects taught, reproduced them in his own mind, and 
with his superior knowledge of the secret resources of 
the English language presented a more distinct and sat- 
isfactory view of German philosophy than could be seen 
through German authors themselves. 



304 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

His Philosophy, — Theology was Doctor Nevin^s voca- 
tion, whilst philosophy was a somewhat secondary matter ; 
but all of his discourses, as well as his writings, are per- 
vaded with a philosophic spirit, which breathes much 
more largely of the school of Plato than of the modern 
English or Scotch philosophy, in which he was reared. 
The only strictly philosophic articles or treatises which 
he ever prepared for the press were, one on ^* Human 
Freedom,'^ and the other styled "A Plea for Philosophy/^ 
They appeared in one of our leading quarterlies. They 
seemed to meet a want so well that the author was urged 
to prepare similar articles for the same publication. His 
other engagements, however, as well as his deep inter- 
est in the more urgent theological questions of the age 
prevented him from complying with this request, which 
was a matter of regret to many of his pupils and friends. 

Doctor Nevin differed from Kant, and agreed with 
Dr. Ranch, Hegel, Plato, and the spiritual school gen- 
erally, in regard to the nature and substance of things, 
as will appear from the following extract taken from 
one of the articles just referred to. 

Substance. — "All created life exists under two as- 
pects, and includes in itself what may be denominated a 
two-fold form of being. In one view, it is something 
individual and single, the particular jevelation as such, 
by which in any given case, it makes itself known in the 
actual world. In another view, it is a general, univer- 



DOCTOR NEVIN 305 

sal force, which lies back of all such revelation, and 
communicates to this its true significance and power. 
In this form it is an idea ; not an abstraction or notion 
simply, fabricated by the understanding, to represent its 
own sense of a certain common character, belonging to 
a multitude of individual objects, but the inmost sub- 
stantial nature of these objects themselves, which goes 
before them, in the order of existence, at least, if not in 
the order of time, and finds its perpetual manifestation 
through their endlessly diversified forms. Thus all life 
is at once ideal and actual, and in this respect, at once 
single and universal/^ 

The Moral Law, — "As thus universal and neces- 
sary, the being of the moral law itself is infinitely real. 
It is not simply the thought or conception of what is 
right, not a name or mental abstraction, representing a 
certain order of life which men are required to observe ; 
but it is the very form of truth and right themselves, 
the absolutely independent power by which they exist 
in the world. As in the sphere of nature, the law is in 
no respect the product of the forces which are compre- 
hended in nature itself, but forms rather the inmost life 
of its entire constitution, which could not exist at all if 
it were not held together by this bond ; so here in the 
sphere of intelligence also, it is by no other power that 
the order of life, as thus intelligent and free, can be 
held for a single hour. The world, in its moral no less 



306 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

than its physical constitution, lives, moves, and has its 
being, only in the presence of the law, as a real exist- 
ence in no sense dependent upon it for its character." 
This is sufficiently idealistic and Platonic. It is also 
confirmed by the same Platonic poet whom we have al- 
ready quoted on this subject. In his Antigone Sopho- 
cles thus again sings : 

*'Nor did I deem thy edicts strong enough, 
That thou, a mortal man, should'st over-pass 
The unwritten laws of God that know not change. 
They are not of to-day nor yesterday, 
But live forever, nor can man assign 
When first they sprang to being." 

A Practical American. — The German character of 
the College had been established in accordance with the 
wish of the Church, but it was intended to be American 
also as well as German. This was a cherished wish of 
the first president, in accordance with which he labored 
and toiled. But one person, and especially a foreigner, 
could not properly accomplish this two-fold work. Two, 
however, could do it better than one. It was, therefore, 
fortunate for the College, that its second president was 
a vigorous American, and from that class of Americans, 
the Scotch Irish, from which some of our strongest na- 
tional characters have proceeded. This element in his 
composition was practical as well as theoretic, happily 
blended with the life of the College, and gave it a de- 
gree of earnestness, firmness and active energy, which it 
could not have received from a prevailing German ten- 



DOCTOR NEVIN 307 

dency. It was a cherished thought of the first president 
to imbue the College with a common spirit, that should 
pervade all its departments and make it a unity, a totali- 
ty, or, according to his way of thinking, an organism. 
It would then grow from within in the order of a nat- 
ural development. That was all good enough in its 
place, but a college needs material support also, funds, 
endowment and many other things, and for this practi- 
cal side of things Dr. Eauch had little talent, whilst his 
successor had. The circumstances of the College called 
for some one who would be in himself a Committee of 
Ways and Means to look after the finances. Such an 
oversight it fortunately received in Dr. Nevin ; and it 
is difficult now to see how it could have survived during 
its financial trials and difficulties at Mercersburg, if it 
had not had some one placed over it who understood 
something about good management. 

A Ready Writer. — Dr. Nevin had the pen of a fluent 
and ready writer, which was soon called into requisi- 
tion. He appeared first in the Messenger in a series of 
articles on " Worldly-Mindedness,^^ in which he gave an 
account of true spiritual religion over against the pre- 
vailing worldly tendencies among professing Christians. 
He probably thought that the main difficulty he would 
have to encounter in his work would be found in the 
want of spirituality in the German churches. In this 
he was doubtless correct, because it was everywhere so, 



308 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

even in those churches which made more profession of 
piety than some of our old fashioned German churches. 
But it was not long before he was made to feel that 
questions more immediate and practical needed attention, 
and he soon found his hands full of work. 

The Centennial Yeai\ — The Classis of Maryland 
proposed in 1840 that the following year should be ob- 
served as the centennial year of the founding of the 
German Reformed Church in this country and that it 
should be the occasion for its members to show their 
gratitude to God for his goodness by their contributions 
to the benevolent objects of the Church. Dr. Nevin 
immediately fell in with the proposition, and wrote 
strong articles in its favor in the columns of the Mes- 
senger. The Synod sanctioned the movement and made 
all the necessary preliminary arrangements to make the 
celebration edifying to our people and useful to the 
Church. It was proposed that, as a thanks-oflFering for 
what God had done for the Church, 8100,000 should be 
raised during the year in voluntary gifts, large and 
small, which were to be devoted to the Seminary, the 
College and Beneficiary Education. The movement 
was successful, and the year 1841 was in various ways 
a year of refreshing and revival to the entire Church, in 
the East and the West. The whole amount of the cen- 
tenary gifts as contemplated at the start was probably 
secured in pledges or subscriptions, but a considerable 



DOCTOR NEVIN 309 

portion of it, for some reason or other, was never real- 
ized. Much of it was given for permanent scholarships 
in Marshall College, costing $500 each, of which a large 
portion came from the German part of the Church on 
the eastern side of the Susquehanna, commencing at 
Harrisburg. 

The Heidelberg Catechism. — Dr. Nevin took a very 
lively interest in this movement, and wished to give it 
the widest range of usefulness. He, therefore, proposed 
that it should embrace the history of the Church from 
the beginning in Switzerland and Germany, how it took 
its rise, and how it protested against the errors of popery. 
To further this object, he wrote a series of articles for 
the if essen^'er, under the general caption :" The Hei- 
delberg Catechism. ^^ They were characterized with 
much force and ability, were read with unflagging at- 
tention, and extended over the years 1841 and 1842. 
They awakened a widespread interest and did much to 
give the Messenger a new and more churchly character. 
They appeared in connection with articles on revivals, 
containing rules and regulations for their proper conduct 
and management. They were afterwards published in 
a small volume, styled "The History and Genius of the 
Heidelberg Catechism.'' They form an admirable and 
succinct history of the Reformation on the Reformed 
side, all of which helped to throw light on the genius 
or spirit of the Catechism. The work is done by a 



310 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

master^s hand, and this small volume is one of the most 
valuable ever made to the literature of the Church in 
this country. 

Germs of Controversies. — Dr. Nevin in his lectures 
on theology all along taught the Spiritual Real Presence 
of Christ in the Lord's Supper, and was careful in his 
sermons to show that this was the doctrine of the Hei- 
delberg Catechism. It was no doubt his conception of 
this sacrament when he came to Mercersburg. In his 
lectures on Ecclesiastical History he further taught that 
the Church was a continuous, living institution, devel- 
oping itself from the time of the Apostles down to the 
present day. His views on these topics created no dif- 
ficulty in the minds of the students, or of the Board of 
Visitors. In the course of time, however, in 1845, he 
was called to account by Dr. Berg of Philadelphia, 
through his paper. The Protestant Banner y and charged 
with serious heresy as well as a want of fidelity to the 
Protestant faith. To such a violent assault he replied 
in a series of articles in the Messenger, in which he ably 
defended himself on these points, and in addition main- 
tained that the denial of their truth was itself unprote- 
stant, or, as he styled it, pseudo-protestant. It was thus 
that a series of controversies was commenced, which ex- 
tended over many years, and involved nearly all of the 
articles of the Christian faith, such as the person of 
Christ, the mystical union, justification, or in a word, 
Christology as well as Theology. 



DOCTOR NEVIN 311 

The Mystical Presence. — The point led in the end to 
the publication of the " Mystical Presence : a Vindica- 
tion of the Reformed or Calvinistic View of the Holy 
Eucharist^^ in 1846, a profound and able work, an epitome, 
in fact, of theology. It was favorably noticed in Ger- 
many, and will long remain a standard work on the 
subject of which it treats. There are few works worthy 
of a more careful reading and study than this. 

Some years afterwards Dr. C. A. Hodge, of Prince- 
ton Seminary, attempted to refute its main point in an 
able article in the Princeton Review. Dr. Nevin had 
maintained that believers in the Lord^s Supper partook 
of the divine-human nature of Christ in the Lord's Sup- 
per ; Dr. Hodge asserted that they partook only of His 
divine nature, and said that this was the doctrine of the 
Reformed Church over against the Lutheran and Catho- 
lic. He admitted that Calvin taught a participation 
in both natures of Christ, but maintained that the hu- 
man element in the sacrament was eliminated as some-' 
thing foreign, from the doctrine in the way of historical 
development. To this Dr. Nevin replied, triumphant- 
ly, as was thought by his friends and many other per- 
sons. Right or wrong, he showed that Calvin's doc- 
trine was the original view of the Reformed Church. 
Both views are held at present in the various Reformed 
Churches. Which is to prevail will probably not be 
determined until certain philosophical questions are first 



312 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

settled. The advances of a more spiritual philosophy 
will favor the old Calvinistic view. The doctrine of 
the Lord's Supper is one of the most vital in Christian- 
ity. It is no wonder that Luther made so much ac- 
count of it. 

The Church Question, — The view of the nature of 
the Christian Church as a living organism living through 
all ages, implied, of course, that the Church of Rome 
was a part or branch of it, because it possessed the fun- 
damental attributes of a Christian Church, the word, 
the sacraments and a regular ministry. It may be a 
very impure Church, containing much corruption and 
many errors, but, as history shows, it cannot be shown 
that it has lost all Christian character. This was offen- 
sive to many persons at the time, especially to Dr. Berg, 
who had all along maintained the opposite view of that 
Church, and accordingly he felt himself compelled, from 
within as well as from without, to combat such a posi- 
tion to the bitter end. His own view of the case is 
probably best expressed in the language of the Rev. 
Gardner Jones, one who fully sympathized with him 
in his opposition to Rome and the Pope. He main- 
tained in a series of articles in the Messenger, in 1842, 
that the Church of Rome was in no sense a branch of 
the Christian Church, that *^ Romanism has no more 
claims to be called Christian than the primary apostacy 
of Satan, in which it had its origin, and that the Papal 



DOCTOR NEVIN 313 

confederacy jnight more fitly be characterized as a Pan^ 
demonium than a society of Christian believers/^ This 
was what Dr. Nevin called Pseudo-Protestantism, a 
term that sounded strange to many at the time. He 
would have been better understood by Pennsylvania 
Germans, if he had called it Katholikenfresserei. 

These two points or positions were the occasion of 
various controversies, extending over many years, in 
which students as well as professors engaged. During 
the period of which we are writing, they lay as germs 
in the Seminary at Mercersburg ; but their development 
took place subsequently, and this is not the place in 
which to treat of them in detail. The controversies 
were attended with good as well as evil results, the 
former, it is believed by many, predominating. They 
came to an end in the famous Peace Measures adopted 
by the General Synod of the Church in 1884, which 
insisted on orthodoxy and charity, without interfering 
with freedom either of thought or speech. 

In Retirement — Within the limits of time to which 
we have confined ourselves, we can only speak of the 
blooming period of Dr. Nevin^s activity at Mercersburg, 
and much remains to be said. During this period, and 
subsequently, he performed an immense amount of work. 
He was the responsible head of both institutions, wielded 
a prolific pen, and prepared many valuable articles for 
the press. In 1853 he retired from official labor, with 
21 



314 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

health broken down and a sense that probably his work 
on earth was ended. After spending some years in 
retirement, he again became president of the College at 
Lancaster in 1865, and for over ten years labored with 
his former energy in promoting its various interests. He 
was always honored and respected by his students, who 
will ever carry his image in their minds, and in their 
hearts a sense of the benefits they received from his 
example and instructions. He is now a venerable sage 
in his eighty-fourth year, with only a dim vision of the 
objects around him, but with a clear sight of the real- 
ities of the spiritual world beyond nature. He reminds 
many of those who visit him in his retreat of Plato in 
philosophy and of Origen in theology. 

Mrs. Martha Jenkins Nevin. — Dr. Nevin was happy 
in the choice of his life's companion. He could never 
have given so much attention to his work nor have 
accomplished so much in his day, if during his intense 
labors he had not had as a help-meet one who was able 
to bear her full share of the burdens and responsibilities 
of a large family. At Mercersburg Mrs. Nevin looked 
well to her household affairs. The grounds around the 
house began at once to improve in appearaoce under her 
care. Trees were planted and shrubbery adorned the 
yard. The merry voices of her children could be heard 
at all hours of the day as far as the Seminary Building, 
reminding us in our isolation of home and home scenes. 



DOCTOR NEVIN 315 

Wilberforce, now lawyer ; Robert, Rector of St. PauFs 
in Rome, Italy; Alice, the musician of the family; and 
Blanche, the artist, were ever moving about in restless 
activity at her side. During vacations we sometimes 
relieved her of a part of her cares for an afternoon, by- 
taking the children out to the woods. They were a 
lively party, quick in their movements, requiring care- 
ful watching, and with their small, bright eyes, agile 
movements, and cheerful chirpings, reminded us of a 
flock of young partridges. 

But Mrs. Nevin had an eye to look beyond her 
home duties, was interested in all the movements of the 
Church and its institutions, and kept herself posted in the 
literature and news of the day. In her ripe old age she 
retains much of the elasticity of youth, still wields a 
facile pen for the public press when occasion calls for it, 
and moves in the literary and social circles of Lancaster 
with the sympathies and apparent mental strength of 
former years. 



** The sours life, mystic memory, more sublime 

Than that which stores from wisdom's boundless sea- 
She sleeps not 'neath the rapid wing of Time, 
But garners for a long eternity." 



*' It haunts me still, though many a year has fled, 
Like some wild melody.'' 



CHAPTER XIII 



The Anxious Bench Controversy 

How it took its Rise. — As the College grew and 
prospered, it began to be felt more and more that the 
Reformed Church at Mercersburg ought to come up to 
the times. It was too far back in the rear. The con- 
gregation continued to worship in the old stone building 
which had no attractions about it, either externally or 
internally. It was in a low part of the town, difficult 
of access in bad weather, the streets leading to it being 
without pavements, or even good side-walks. The ap- 
pearance of the graveyard, the small steeple unconscious 
of paint, and the rude architecture of the interior, with 
no organ, were calculated to make an unfavorable im- 
pression on the minds of young men who came from 
other parts of the country, where the churches presented 
a better appearance. The incongruity of such a church 
building, at the principal seat of training for a large 
religious denomination, was most keenly felt when stran- 
gers from abroad visited the place on public occasions, 
attracted by the growing fame of the young institution. 
The feeling that something ought to be done, not only 
for the sake of appearances, but for the sake of a for- 
lorn congregation, increased in intensity, until the good 
men and women of the congregation, urged thereunto 



THE ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY 317 

by the students and professors, came to the conclusion 
that a pastor should be secured, who would take charge 
of the poor flock. Then it was expected that all other 
good things would follow in his wake. Accordingly, 
a number of settled pastors were invited to preach as 
candidates to fill the vacancy, but for some reason or 
other no one of them could be obtained, and the outlook 
became very gloomy. 

An Excitement — At length the Rev. William Ram- 
sey, a Presbyterian minister of Philadelphia, who had 
been previously a missionary in China, appeared before 
the congregation as a candidate, on a certain Sunday in 
1842. He arrested considerable attention, had a large 
audience, and preached an impressive sermon in the 
forenoon. In the evening he had a still larger crowd, 
including all classes of people, — and his discourse be- 
came more emotional. After the sermon, believing that 
he was master of the situation, without consulting any 
one, he invited all who desired the prayers of the Church, 
to present themselves before the altar. Several persons, 
among the rest some elderly ladies of the church, who 
had always adorned their Christian profession, made 
their appearance, and the result was what usually occurs 
on such occasions, considerable excitement and more or 
less confusion. The preacher was evidently in his ele- 
ment and showed that he knew how to manage a mod- 
ern revival or religious excitement. There must be 



318 



COLLEGE RECOLLECTTIONS 



concert of action, and every one must do his part, and 
show that he is in sympathy with the meeting. At last 
Dr. Nevin, who was an attentive spectator of the scene 
before him, was called on to say something, which he 
did in his usual, solemn and thoughtful way. He ad- 
dressed the large audience on the nature of true religion, 
and urged the members to be careful not to imagine 
that coming out in this public way was the same as re- 
pentance and faith in Christ, which alone could give 
peace. He wished them to make a distinction between 
the two things, and warned them earnestly against self- 
deception. He assured them that no amount of outward 
physical exercises would avail, not even if they should 
creep about from one corner of the church to another, 
until their knees were sore and bleeding. The remarks 
were proper and altogether judicious at this stage of the 
proceedings, although they changed the tone and spirit 
of the meeting considerably, and the people went home 
impressed with a sense of the solemnity of religion ; but 
Mr. Ramsay, as he afterwards said, did not think they 
were judicious. 

The people, however, were aroused and were gener- 
ally in favor of an immediate election. Desperate cases 
require desperate treatment and so it was in this case. 
They wanted some one who would arouse the congrega- 
tion, and it made no difference who or what he was. 
The only person who hesitated was Elder Reninger from 



THE ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY 319 

the country, who had come from Berks County and was 
a firm believer in the old ways. In his speech at the 
meeting when the election was to be held, he asked for 
more light and wished to know what business this man, 
who was a Presbyterian, had in the Reformed Church. 
Elder Adam Hoke told him that he had been a mis- 
sionary among the heathen, and as there were probably 
some heathen around Meroersburg, it was just the place 
for him to come to and preach the Gospel. Of course 
Mr. Reninger had to subside, and the election was near- 
ly, if not quite, unanimous ; and Mr. Ramsey received 
a call to become the pastor, 

A Spirited Correspondence. — Dr. Nevin was anxious 
that the call should be accepted, but he felt it to be his 
duty first to inform Mr. Ramsey candidly by letter 
that, if he came to Mercersburg, it would be necessary 
for him to give up his new-measures and adopt the 
catechetical system, in vogue in the Reformed Church, 
else they could not work together harmoniously and he 
might be obliged to stand in his way. This brought on 
a crisis. Mr. Ramsey at once wTote in reply to the con- 
sistory, declining the call, and assigning as the cause 
of his refusal the letter of Dr. Nevin. It was by far 
one of the longest letters which we ever read, in which 
the writer belabored his old friend and class-mate at 
Princeton Seminary without gloves, as he no doubt sup- 
posed. It had in it the appearence of a large amount 



320 COLLEGE KECOLLECTIONS 

of piety, but it was also full of bitterness,' and was 
meant to produce an eflFect. The mistake which the 
good man made was that he could not see that he was 
dealing with an old historical church and not one of 
his own of the new school order. 

The letter of Mr. Ramsey was read by all who wish- 
ed, and some enjoyed it not a little, just as they would a 
big volley of artillery thrown into the camp of an enemy. 
But most persons were sad about it. High wrought 
expectations that the church would at once become the 
largest in the town under the leadership of such a min- 
ister from Philadelphia, were dashed to the ground, and 
now what was be done ? The elders were thoughtful and 
wondered what the theological professor meant, when he 
all along had encouraged them to unite on Mr. Ramsey. 
Elder Peter Cook was the first to gain some light on a 
subject that seemed to be wrapped up in so much mys- 
tery : he remarked that as Dr. Nevin was at the head of 
the Church, he could no doubt see farther than the mem- 
bers, and that in the end all things would come out 
right. His opinion gradually prevailed, and the con- 
gregation did not go to pieces, as some predicted. 

The Students. — In the institutions a considerable 
portion of the religious students sympathized with the 
congregation, which had been robbed of what had al- 
ready become its idol, its arm of flesh ; in the Seminary, 
opinions were divided. Most of the students thought 



THE ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY 321 

that there was a misunderstanding somewhere, and they 
held a meeting to see whether something might not be 
done to bring the two sides together and still secure the 
services of the pastor-elect. As far as we could learn, 
the object of the meeting was good, and not intended in 
any way to be disrespectful. 

But as Dr. Nevin had spoken out plainly, so as to 
prevent misunderstanding, he was at a loss to know 
what it meant. It looked somewhat as if the wild- fire 
was approaching too near his own feet for his own com- 
fort. As he was at the time lecturing on Pastoral The- 
ology, he took occasion to deliver several lectures on the 
system of new-measures, to which the students had re- 
cently received such an introduction. They were as out- 
spoken as his letter to Mr. Ramsey, and a great deal 
more forcible. The effect was all that could be desired. 
The effervescence among the students subsided, and they 
generally came to Squire Cook's conclusion already re- 
ferred to, and were quite willing to hope for the best. 

The Congregation Rallies. — Not long after this the 
congregation rallied and elected one of the theological 
students, Charles F. McCauley, as their pastor. Under 
his care it moved forward prosperously under the cate- 
chetical system, and both Elder Hoke and Elder Ren- 
inger, as well as the rest of the brethren, grew in grace 
and knowledge. In the course of a few years it emerged 
from the old shell of a church, to which we had to go 



322 



COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 



down through muddy streets, arid erected for them- 
selves a handsome church in front of the Seminary, to 
which the members came up, on better walks. 

The Tract on the Anxious Bench, — This Ramsey 
fiasco, or new-measure outbreak, at the theological cen- 
tre of the Reformed Church, did not end wuth a mere 
temporary clashing of two different systems of religious 
activity, attended with more than necessary excitement 
for a few weeks. It was the beginning of a long con- 
troversy, which extended over the country, wherever 
churches of German origin, Lutheran or Reformed, 
had any existence, and was attended with permanent 
and very beneficial results in both religious bodies. 

Vague rumors of what had occurred at Mercersburg 
spread over the Church, and Dr. Nevin, who had been 
only a few years in his place at Mercersburg, did not 
feel altogether sure of it. It was right that he should 
know where he stood, and whether he could expect to 
be sustained by the Reformed Church, whose servant 
he was, in the position which he was thus obliged to as- 
sume by the force of circumstances. He, accordingly, 
enlarged the new lectures just delivered and formed them 
into a " Tract for the Times,^^ first in pamphlet form, 
under the well-known title of the "Anxious Bench." 
It was something that was called for at the time, and it 
was right that the Church should know where Dr. 
Nevin stood ; and that he should likewise know what 



THE ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY 323 

the mind of the Church really was on this general 
subject. 

In the Reformed Church. — There was a short period 
of suspense after the publication of the Tract, and most 
likely considerable anxiety in the mind of the writer 
— but it was soon broken. The Chambersburg Elders 
had put their heads together, and one of them became 
their spokesman, who assured the author that he would 
be sustained, because he was right. This was a signifi- 
cant straw, which showed which way the wind would 
blow, in a place where it had been blowing for some 
time— at least trying to do so — the other way. Favor- 
able news in regard to the Tract soon came across the 
Susquehanna from Eastern Pennsylvania, the strong- 
hold of the Reformed and Lutheran Churches — as it 
regarded congregations and members. The ministers in 
that section all felt that their hands were sustained by 
the utterances of the little book over against the fanati- 
cism, or "Schwaermerei,^^ with which they had to con- 
tend in their respective fields, in order to keep their 
flocks together. The venerable fathers. Pomp, Hoffe- 
ditz, Becker, Wolff, Weiser, Helfrich, Zuilch, Hess, 
Dubbs, Leinbach, the Hermans, the Paulis, and many 
others, were all of the same opinion in regard to the 
voice from Mercersburg. It increased their interest in 
the general affairs of the Church and strengthened their 
confidence in the English character of our schools of 



324 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

learning. Seldom, if ever, had an event occurred which 
so enlisted the attention of our German Pennsylvania 
people. 

Dr. Berg of Philadelphia, regarded as a new-measure 
man, said that with unimportant particulars he could 
subscribe to all that the book said. Dr. N. P. Hacke, 
in Western Pennsylvania, said that it expressed just 
what the older German ministers of the Church had 
been trying all along to teach, but with indifferent suc- 
cess, and for the most part exposing themselves to the 
charge of being behind the times, of being indifferent to 
pure religion, or of laboring under the power of mere 
prejudice. He was rejoiced that the truth had found an 
able advocate, and thought that it was something provi- 
dential that God had sent an Englishman among us, to 
whom the people would listen on this subject with more 
attention than they did to the old German fathers. — Dr. 
David Winters, of Dayton, Ohio, said that the book 
ought to be read, and took a decided stand in the Synod 
of Ohio to promote its circulation in all its congrega- 
tions. It was calculated, as he thought, to do good, 
and should be carefully perused and studied. 

As a matter of course there were others in the Re- 
formed Church who took the other side, and deprecated 
the publication of the Tract as calculated to do harm and 
to give encouragement to scoffers and irreligious persons. 
In the Synod of Ohio when the ministers were called on 



THE ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY 325 

to answer whether they had tried to circulate the Anx- 
ious Bench book as they had been directed to do, one old 
minister, with arms akimbo and his head thrown back, 
answered in an emphatic negative, and then strengthened 
his refusal by adding that "he would not touch the 
wicked thing with a ten-foot pole/' 

The Princeton professors, with the venerable Dr. A. 
Alexander at their head, who took a lively interest in 
the institutions at Mercersburg, regarded the treatise on 
new- measures with favor and gave it their unqualified 
approbation. 

In the Lutheran Church. — The book made a wide- 
spread sensation in the Lutheran Church, fully as much 
so as in the Reformed. There the two parties, the Old 
and New Schools, were gathering together into two differ- 
ent camps, and their relations to each other were already 
strained. The former, holding fast to the traditions of 
their grand old Church, were in a measure helpless, 
somewhat drowsy, if not asleep, like their Reformed 
brethren in like circumstances. The voice from Mer- 
cersburg came upon them like a thunderclap, and it at 
once arrested attention. They asked who this Dr. Nevin 
was, as his name was not German, and when they were 
told that he came out of the Presbyterian Church, which 
they supposed had a hand in starting the so-called new- 
measure, their wonder was only increased. Never be- 
fore were the Lutherans of this wing more friendly to 
the Reformed and their ministers. 



326 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Some of their clergymen were quite outspoken, and 
encouraged their people to read the Anxious Bench. 
One of them — a distinguished pastor — sent for copies 
for circulation among his people, and exhausted the 
first edition. Another said very emphatically that the 
book or protest ought to have come rather from the 
Lutheran than the Reformed Church, which was a very 
true remark, because the Lutherans had plunged more 
deeply into the quagmire of new- measures; but strictly 
speaking it came from neither, but from one who had 
been an outsider, had himself been in the system of new- 
measures, and knew all about them. This arrested at- 
tention and gave his book the more weight. 

Dr, Kurtz. — In the other branch of the Lutheran 
Church, which was waking up and putting off dull sloth 
as fast as it could, in the use of new-measures, the Mer- 
cersburg protest was from the start well received and 
regarded as opportune by many. The system of new 
measures had been useful, as they said, but it had al- 
ready its day, and ought now to be given up for some- 
thing better. They were tired of it. A much larger 
number, perhaps, only stopped and began to think. 
But Dr. Benjamin Kurtz, editor of the Lutheran Ob- 
server at Baltimore, one of the most prominent origina- 
tors of the new order in the Lutheran Church, instinc- 
tively felt that his own position was compromised, and so 
he went to work to fight for it. He wrote many articles 



THE ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY 327 

in his paper in reply to Dr. Nevin's book, and kept 
toiling at his up-hill work from week to week, until his 
readers probably became tired of his articles. His origi- 
nal idea was to publish them in book form, but their 
publication was never called for, as far as we know. 
They would have formed a much larger work than the 
book which he attempted to refute. 

Dr. Weiser. — The Rev. Reuben Weiser, one of Dr. 
Kurtz's coadjutors and admirers, engaged in revivals in 
Bedford Co., Pa., and full of the revival spirit, published 
a somewhat breezy pamphlet on the Mourner's Bench, 
also in reply to the Anxious Bench. In his zeal he de- 
nounced the author as well as the book, which he 
thought was interfering with God's work on earth. 
The writer was still young, but he lived to grow wiser 
by age and experience. Less than a year ago Dr. Wei- 
ser came out in the Latheran Observer y in an ad- 
mirable article reviewing the past, and to the surprise 
of everybody took back his offensive language, which he 
had used towards Dr. Nevin, and acknowledged that he 
was right in publishing such a work as he did at the 
time. Dr. Weiser was no doubt an earnest and sincere 
man in his convictions, and rendered himself useful to 
his church in his day, Not long after his noble and 
candid article in the Observer, he rested from his labors 
on earth and fell asleep. Others of his brethren showed 
equal candor and acknowledged their error also. 



328 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

Mr. Denny, — The Rev. John Denny, a minister of 
the United Brethren Church at Chambersburg, an un- 
educated man, published an amusing diatribe on the 
ungodly writer of the Anxious Bench and his book. 
Dr. Nevin, in noticing him in the Messenger^ in allusion 
to his tirade, humorously called him the Theological 
Plough Manufacturer, and so the simple minded man in 
another pamphlet added to his name the letters T. P. M. 
as the degree which he had received from such high 
quarters at Mercersburg. 

Dr. Nevin waited until all had said what they de- 
sired to say, and then replied to them in a single article 
in the Messenger, short, crispy, humorous and good na- 
tured, which provoked a roar of laughter throughout 
the churches. This practically ended the controversy. 

The Point at Issue, — In its day the Anxious Bench 
was frequently misrepresented. With some it was re- 
garded as a covert assault upon all piety, and with others 
as an attack on the Methodist and all other Puritanical 
Churches. Any one, however, who will read the book 
carefully, will find that the language is well guarded, 
and that no Christian denomination as such is held up 
to ridicule or reproach. The Church of the Puritans 
and the Methodist Church are great facts in history, 
and are becoming greater every day by their good works, 
something wonderful and surprising to every one ac- 
quainted with their origin and early history. They are 
the most convincing arguments that Christ rules in His 



THE ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY 329 

Church and is with His people always. Dr. Nevin had 
in view the system of new-measures, but primarily the 
spirit that was back of them — the fanaticism, the 
Schwaermerei — that breaks out at times in all Churches 
and in all ages, in the Catholic no less than in the Pro- 
testant Churches. This spirit confronted Dr. Nevin at 
the beginning of his work at Mercersburg with no small 
degree of assurance, as we have already seen, and he had 
to grapple with it or basely surrender his convictions. 
He did so valiently, not simply on his own account, but 
for the sake of the usefulness and prosperity of the 
Church in whose midst he was called to labor. At first 
the controversy was simply a family affair, and had no 
reference to other denominations, and so it was expected 
to remain ; but it passed over the barriers of its own 
home, and did good wherever it went. 

The Natural and the Spiritual, — The point in contro- 
versy was not in fact exactly a question of measures, but 
of a principle that lay back of all measures. The system 
called new-measures at the time was attacked because 
it was pervaded with a new form of religious life, 
confined mainly to the lower or psychic life of man, and 
not exactly to his higher spiritual nature, where the Holy 
Spirit abides and works effectually through all his other 
activities, lower as well as higher, and makes man truly 
spiritually-minded. The ^* Great Awakening'^ in New 
England in the time of Edwards was much of it doubt- 
22 



330 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 



less psychic or natural, but it was predominantly spirit- 
ual also. It was a wave that passed over the whole 
country and made itself felt in the course of time in all 
the denominations, in the circumstances latest in the 
German Church. But in the course of time in its 
progress it lost much of its power for the spirit, and 
there was little left but what was purely psychic. It 
then embodied itself in a system, had its measures, its 
rules, its regulations, and sought to rule in the churches, 
irrespective of their historic life and the deeper spiritual 
life underlying them. For the Reformed and Lutheran 
Churches this was the meaning and historical character 
of the controversy, which we are here describing. 

Good Fruits, — In the Reformed Church it consti- 
tuted an epoch and opened up a new era. In a great 
measure it put an end to the vacillating spirit too preva- 
lent at the time among our people, who sometimes did 
not know which way to go or what they were, something 
too characteristic of some of them at the present day ; it 
placed the church on its own proper historic basis and 
gave it an opportunity to grow out of its own historic 
life ; it tended toward great unity and concert of action ; 
it awakened new life ; and it opened up the way for the 
free development of educational religion, of the cate- 
chetical instruction of the youth, of the church-year, of 
church-art, of liturgical services and of a more living 
and evangelical theology. The book was, it is true, 
largely negative, especially in the first edition, as it 




THE ANXIOUS BENCH CONTROVERSY 331 

could not otherwise be, but it was positive throughout, 
which in this case gave power to its polemics. It was 
one spirit everywhere resisting another spirit. The 
positive element came out more prominently in the sec- 
ond edition in which in an additional chapter educa- 
tional religion, the system of the catechism, is held up 
and enforced as the proper thing to take the place of the 
system of new-measures. 

A New Era, — From what has now been said, we 
think we are safe in saying that the publication of the 
Anxious Bench in 1843 was a turning point in the his- 
tory of the Reformed Church, which determined in a 
large degree its subsequent history. Other issues came 
in no doubt and exerted a modifying influence ; in the 
heat of controversy extreme positions were assumed ; 
but in all of the conflicts there was one position held by 
all in common, and this was settled during the first con- 
troversy in 1843. The more general question then was, 
whether there was a Reformed Church, and if so, 
whether it should remain German Reformed or become 
something else. If our ministers and people did not 
wish to be Reformed, then the proper and honest course 
for them to pursue was to pass over into the Presbyter- 
ian, Methodist, Lutheran or some other denomination, 
and thus diminish the number of denominations. This 
was the question put to them at that time. An em- 
phatic answer in the aflirmative came in from all the 
tribes of our ecclesiastical Israel, and so it has continued. 



CHAPTER XIV 



Doctor Schaff 

The German Professorship. — The necessity of having 
a German professor at Mercersburg did not cease with 
the death of Ranch and the advent of Nevin. It grew in 
intensity and came to an expression in the Classis of Ma- 
ryland, which represented the more English portion of 
the Church. Its members generally, and its ministers, 
such as Dr. D. Zacharias, Dr. Elias Heiner, Dr. J. C. 
Bucher, Robert Douglas and others, took a deep interest 
in the prosperity of the Church and the success of its 
institutions. From the brethren of this Classis the pro- 
position came in 1843 that Dr. F. W. Krummacher of Ger- 
many should be secured to take the place of Dr. Ranch at 
Mercersburg as German Professor. This suggestion was 
supported by Dr. Nevin in the Messenger with charac- 
teristic vigor, and earnestly urged upon the Synod at 
a special meeting at Lebanon, in January, 1843. That 
body, under a deep sense of the solemnity and impor- 
tance of this step, elected Dr. Krummadhrer, Reformed pas- 
tor at Elberfeld and the great pulpit orator, to the vacant 
Professorship in the Seminary, and appointed Rev. Theo- 
dore L. Hoffeditz and Dr. B. S. Schneck to visit Ger- 
many, and in person place the call in the hands of Dr. 
Krummacher. 



DOCTOR SCHAFF 333 

A Bequest — The appointmeDt met with much favor 
and excited not a little enthusiasm in the Church, espe- 
cially in the German section ; but after the second sober 
thought came, the difficulties in the way began to show 
themselves. The treasury of the Seminary, never over- 
flowing, was scarcely able to do more than meet current 
expenses, and how was it now to meet this additional 
demand on its resources ? With such a showing, how 
could the Commissioners with a good conscience present 
their call ? This was a weight upon the mind of Dr. 
Schneck, and he went to the Hon. John C. Bucher of 
Harrisburg for counsel and advice. Judge Bucher lis- 
tened to his statement of the situation attentively, and 
after some reflection told him to visit Daniel Kieffer, a 
German farmer in Berks County, and urge him to pro- 
vide for the emergency. There was no room for delay, 
and next morning early and urgently he sent his guest 
on his way to Reading by stage. Judge Bucher did not 
act unwittingly. He knew something of Mr. Kiefifer 
and his feelings. At Reading Dr. Schneck was joined 
by Dr. J. C. Bucher, and together they went out to 
Oley township and spent the night with Elder Kiefler. 
In the evening the whole matter was laid before the 
Elder, of course in the German language, and he was 
left to reflect over the matter during the watches of the 
night. Next morning he informed his guests that he 
would leave a legacy of $10,000 in his will, to be used 



334 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

for the support of the German professor after his de- 
cease. He was advanced in years, and this made the 
path of the Commissioners plain, and convinced them 
that they had found a missing link in the chain of prov- 
idential events. Soon afterwards they were on their 
way to Europe. Mr. Kieffer lived some ten or eleven 
years longer, and his liberal bequest ultimately came 
into the Lord's treasury. The mere promise of such a 
gift, however, had just the same effect at the time as if 
it were payable on demand. 

Elder Daniel Kieffer, — Mr. Kieffer had relatives in 
Franklin County, residing in the qeighborhood of Mer- 
cersburg, whom he sometimes visited. During these 
visits he met with students of the Seminary and College, 
and from them he learned much that was interesting to 
him about them and the good work they were accom- 
plishing. He was thus prepared to consider their claims 
upon his liberality, and it is probable that he had al- 
ready made up his mind to do something of this kind for 
the church of his fathers. During these visits he showed 
of what spirit he was as a Christian. His conversation 
was throughout spiritual and religious. On Sunday, if 
there was no church to attend, he kept the family busy 
all day in religious conversation, in singing, praying, or 
in hearing the Scriptures or other good books read aloud. 
Some of the young people thought it was too much of a 
good thing, but he thought it was the best way to spend 



DOCTOR SCHAFF 335 

the Lord's Day. He was a man probably of like spirit 
with the pious German in East Pennsylvania of whom 
the missionary Brainerd said that " he was the most re- 
ligious man he had ever met." 

The promise, however, had a condition annexed to it, 
to the effect that nothing should be said about this gift 
during the life-time of the testator. Otherwise it was 
to be null and void, and of no effect. But to keep this 
a profound secret, in a Church where so many were in- 
terested in it, seemed to be next to impossible, and the 
secret, passing from one to another, was pretty widely 
divulged, and reached the ears of Mr. Kieffer himself. 
He was much displeased and said with some emphasis 
that he was no longer bound by any promise to make 
the bequest. But his cousin, the Rev. Moses Kieffer, at 
that time one of the pastors at Reading, took the matter 
in hand and made his cousin a friendly visit. During 
the visit the legacy was referred to, when the Elder asked 
the Minister what he would do in the circumstances. 
The latter told him he would after all make the gift. 
The Elder then replied in broken English: "Well, 
Br udder Moses, if you'd do so, I d us so too.'' 

Dr, Krummacher, — The Commissioners of the Synod, 
when they reached Germany, proceeded without delay 
to Elberfeld and laid before Dr. Krummacher the sol- 
emn call from America. It exercised him greatly, and 
led him to much searching of heart and prayer to as- 



336 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

certain what it meant, and what was his duty in the 
premises. Dr. Nevin had written him a thoughtful 
letter, and after much and careful examination he came 
to the conclusion that his sphere of usefulness lay in 
Germany. He was the great pulpit orator of Germany, 
a brilliant writer as well as speaker, evangelical and or- 
thodox in his sentiments, a burning and shining light, 
just such a one as was needed amidst the abounding ra- 
tionalism and formalism of the Fatherland. His deci- 
sion to remain at his post was right and commended it- 
self to all alike, to his friends also in America, who had 
sought to bring him to this country. 

Dr. Philip 8chaff. — This call to the great preacher 
from America excited a wide-spread interest in the re- 
ligious and theological circles of Germany, in which the 
great theologians of the time fully sympathized. They 
were of the opinion that one of their younger theologi- 
ans should be selected in the place of Krummacher ; 
but as they cast their eyes over them they found it diffi- 
cult to select the one that would suit best. There were 
a few who gave the promise of future fruitfulness, but 
they were needed to take their places when they should 
pass off the stage. Neander and Hengstenberg at Ber- 
lin, Tholuck and Mueller at Halle, were good advisers, 
thoughtful and judicious in their advice, and recom- 
mended one of them for the position in America. Eb- 
rard, Dorner and others were spoken of, but the lot fell 



DOCTOR SCHAFF 337 

upon Doctor Philip Schaff, then lecturer on theology in 
the University of Berlin. He had already shown by 
several small treatises, which he had written, that he had 
a future before him. Besides he was a Swiss, a born 
republican, and a fine pulpit orator, which would adapt 
him to such a free, republican, practical country as 
America. 

His Ordination at Elherfeld, — The Synod accordingly 
elected him Professor of Church History and Exegesis 
in the Seminary ; and he at once gave up his work and 
his prospects of an academical career in the great centre 
of learning in the German capital, and prepared to obey 
the voice which called him for his future work in this 
western world. His ordination to the ministry of the 
Gospel and to his future work in America took place in 
Dr. Krummacher^s large church at Elberfeld, under the 
auspices of the Wupperthal Missionary Society, in the 
presence of an immense audience. The services were 
throughout of a missionary character. The consecrating 
services were opened with an address from the Superin- 
tendent, Rev. Dr. Huelsmann, on the words : " The 
harvest is great, but the laborers are few." He directed 
attention more particularly to the New Worldy where in 
the United States of America the Gospel has multiplied 
its triumphs as well as in Europe. "How shall we not 
feel ourselves constrained," cried the speaker, " to extend 
our sympathy to our German brethren in America, by 



338 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

reaching forth a helping hand in favor of their religious 
institutions, and by carrying our earnest supplications 
before the throne of grace for their prosperity. We be- 
lieve in a Catholic Christian Church, and consider all 
as members of it, who bow their knees with us to the 
Saviour of the world, and profess His Gospel, however 
widely separated they may be from us by distance, 
social condition or language." "After the act of ordi- 
nation was performed. Dr. Krummacher ascended the 
reading desk, and saluted the newly elected missionary, 
as now ready to sail, with all his vouchers, inward as 
well as outward, regularly at hand." His address and 
parting words were characterized with deep pathos and 
his usual eloquence, and was followed by a discourse 
from Professor SchaflF himself, breathing the spirit of 
the true missionary and ambassador of the Cross. 

Reception at Mercersburg, — As chairman of the 
Committee of Arrangements, we prepared an account of 
Dr. Schaff's reception at Mercersburg, which we here 
give, somewhat abridged : 

"Monday evening (August 12, 1844) was the time 
appointed to receive the distinguished stranger at the 
place of his future residence. During the day the stu- 
dents had been busy in fitting up the Seminary Build- 
ing for the occasion. With the assistance of the ladies 
of the village they had prepared a number of beautiful 
festoons of evergreen to encircle the columns of the por- 



DOCTOR SCHAFF 339 

tico, and a large arch of the same material to span the 
wide gate of the campus. The windows of the Semi- 
nary Edifice had also been prepared for a general illu- 
mination. The students of the Preparatory Depart- 
ment had exhibited equal zeal in getting their edifice 
ready for a general illumination. At about half past 
seven an unusually large procession of students, citizens 
and strangers, escorted by the Mercersburg band, pro- 
ceeded to ^^Schcene Aussicht,^' an elevation overlooking 
the town on the east. (Some wished the hill to be 
called Bellevue ; some, Fairview or Prospect Hill, but 
the Committee preferred to give it a German name.) 
In a short time Dr. Schaff made his appearance, at- 
tended by the Committee, who had brought him in a 
carriage from Greencastle. He was there received by 
the students in silence with uncovered heads. As he 
passed along through the long avenue of students and 
others, the utmost decorum prevailed, although it had 
now grown dark, and a large collection of persons of all 
classes from the town and neighborhood had assembled. 
The proper civilities having been passed, the pro- 
cession returned to the Seminary Building through the 
town with a scene before them such as Mercersburg had 
perhaps never witnessed before. On the one side, the 
Preparatory Building presented a blazing front, while 
the Seminary on the other, filled with lights, which 
were reflected from the massive pillars in front, hung 



340 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

with evergreens, with the cupola gleaming with light 
far above the scene that outrivaled any picture of the 
fancy. 

When the procession reached the Portico, Dr. Schaff 
was addressed in two very neat and dignified Salutato- 
ries, one in English by P. S. Negley of the Senior Class, 
and the other in German by Max Stern of the Seminary ; 
Dr. Schaff replied in a very eloquent rejoinder in the 
German language. His feelings in view of his kind re- 
ception in the place, where the sphere of his future labors 
lay, seemed to give freedom and warmth to his language. 
He alluded respectfully to his learned predecessor, the 
Rev. Dr. Ranch, to his present worthy colleague, the 
Rev. Dr. Nevin, to the great work to which he had felt 
himself called from his Fatherland, and concluded bv 
assuring his new friends of the pleasure with which he 
would labor with them in the advancement of Religion 
and Theological Science in America. 

"After the exercises were over he spent the remain- 
der of the evening at the house of Dr. Nevin, with a 
number of his new acquaintances. Later in the evening 
the students appeared on the outside of the window with 
their musical instruments. A number of German songs 
were sung, including the well-known German students^ 
song, " Guadeamus igitur.^^ As they withdrew, they de- 
livered with a will their Vivat Professor 1 which was 
answered from the window by a Vivant Studiosi! It 



DOCTOR SCHAFF 341 

will thus be perceived that Monday was not an ordi- 
nary day at Mercersburg." 

First Impressions. — Dr. SchaflF had scarcely shaken 
hands with the new friends at Mercersburg, who con- 
gratulated him on his safe arrival, before he entered 
upon the future work with his wonted energy and en- 
thusiasm. How beautiful the German language sounded 
as he used it in his lectures and sermons ! Some persons 
went to hear him in the church, and listened to his dis- 
course for a full hour without understanding a word 
that he said. It was music in their ears. One of our 
older ministers, using a homely but original figure, said 
his flow of words reminded him of '^smooth shot rolling 
out of an iron shovel.^^ 

Anglo- Germanism. — It soon became apparent that in 
the selection of a German professor the lot had fallen 
npon the right man — that Neander, Tholuck, Mueller 
and Hengstenberg were wise and judicious in their judg- 
ment. Dr. Schaff was ardent and youthful in his feel- 
ings, and as a consequence the better prepared to adapt 
himself to his new surroundings. He felt himself at 
home in the bracing atmosphere of our free republican 
institutions, and was confirmed in his faith that the new 
world had a mission, — especially in the future, — just as 
Europe had hers in the past, and still has in the present. 
In due course of time he became naturalized as an Ameri- 
can citizen and felt free to renounce his allegiance to all 



342 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

foreign kings and potentates. So, also, he soon sought 
as his companion for life an American lady, Miss Mary 
Schley, of Frederick City, Md., daughter of David H. 
Schley, Esq. She came from an old and highly respect- 
able American German family that had already settled 
in the province of Maryland in the middle of the last 
century. The first of the name was a German school- 
teacher in Frederick, who in the absence of a pastor was 
accustomed to read a German sermon on Sunday for the 
benefit of the .pastorless flock to which he belonged. 
From him descended a large family connection, includ- 
ing a number of names that became distinguished iu the 
State and country. Mrs. Schaff was a lady of energy 
and of culture, familiar with the usages of refined so- 
ciety, and proved herself to be of much service to her 
companion in his work and his experiences in what was 
to him a new world. He at once fell in with the spirit 
of Anglo-Germanism, advocated by Ranch and Nevin, 
from an intelligent conviction and as a matter of course. 
His able discourse on that subject no doubt strengthened 
him in the conviction that it was the only proper course 
to be pursued in the premises ; and it also helped to 
break down a one-sided German feeling among many 
who were slow to look at the subject in that light. 

Literary Activity, — At first, however. Dr. Schaff con- 
fined himself closely to his sphere as a German professor, 
lectured, preached and wrote for the press in the German 



DOCTOR SCHAFF 343 

language. In 1848 he commenced the publication of the 
Deutsche Kirchenfreund, which was an "Organ for the 
general interests of the American German Churches/^ 
It was an able periodical, and was well received in both 
branches of the German Reformation in this country. 
In 1851, a few years afterwards, he published his His- 
tory of the Apostolic Church, the first volume of his 
Church History, which has been followed at intervals 
by volume after volume ever since. His first book, al- 
though written in German and published by a small 
printing establishment at Mercersburg, arrested atten- 
tion and was at once highly commended by the leading 
quarterlies of the day. The Princeton Review said that 
"it placed its author in the highest rank of contempo- 
rary Church historians '^ 

His Inaugural. — The Inaugural Address of Dr. 
Schaflf was delivered at Reading, Pa., in October, 1844. 
It was lengthy, and only a part of it read on the occa- 
sion. It was somewhat enlarged afterwards and covered 
over 160 pages, when it was published in book form. 
It is styled the "Principle of Protestantism,^^ prefaced 
by an able Introduction from Dr. Nevin. It was a 
work of unusual ability, and contained many views 
that were to a great extent new in this country, al- 
though not so in Germany. It is based on the theory 
that, as all history is a development, so it must be with 
the history of the Christian Church, from the beginning 



344 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

down to the present time. The Reformation, therefore, 
was not an isolated fact, somewhat accidental, but the 
fruit or results of the struggles of the Church in the ages 
preceding. Protestantism, therefore, was not a revolu- 
tion nor a mere negative protest, but carried with it in 
a higher form the better life of the old Church, purified 
by being brought into contact with the Church in the 
Apostolic period. But as a development it cannot be 
regarded as the final and perfect form of the Church, 
as the body of Christ, or the Bride of the Lamb. It is 
like all other developments, an intermediate process, in- 
tended for something better and more perfect in the fu- 
ture, when the present divisions in the body of Christ 
shall cease, and its present adversities shall be taken up 
in a higher unity, and appear as one Holy, Catholic and 
Apostolic Church. The Christian Church at first was 
Petrine ; at the Reformation it became Pauline ; and the 
Church of the future is to be Johannean. Space permits 
us here to give onlj the general drift of the treatise. It 
is a very proftjuncl ;^roduction, embodying the more ad- 
vanced thought of the Evangelical Church in Germany, 
guarded against its rationalism and its defective idea of 
the Church, and just such a production as might be ex- 
pected from the genial school of Neander. The sali- 
ent points of the entire treatise are embodied in 112 
theses, which are in themselves a volume, or epitome of 
theology and the ^^ Church Question,^' which Dr. Schaff 



DOCTOR SCHAFF 345 

with D'Aubigne at the time regarded the great prob- 
lem of the age. 

The Inaugural, with the Introduction, and the ser- 
mon of Dr. Nevin on Catholic Unity, which were pub- 
lished in the same volume, was generally regarded as 
satisfactory, but as many of the thoughts were new for 
this country, they were narrowly scrutinized, and pro- 
voked in the minds of some m inisters in the Church de- 
termined opposition. Dr. Berg had already taken up 
the gauntlet, and others, more particularly in his own 
Classis, sympathized with him. The result was that 
both professors were arraigned for serious heresy by the 
Classis of Philadelphia before the Synod that met at 
York, Pa., in 1845. The impeachment was irregular 
and unconstitutional, but the professors waived all tech- 
nicalities and submitted to an examination, which, in 
substance, was of the nature of a trial. The arguments 
on both sides were conducted with dignity and decorum. 
The speakers carefully abstained from personalities, and 
the impression made on the community was that minis- 
ters could differ in their opinions without exhibiting a 
bad temper. The speeches of the professors were char- 
acterized with great ability and learning, and the pity is 
that there were then no reporters there to take them 
down and have them published, just as they were spo- 
ken. The result was that the professors were acquitted 
by an almost unanimous vote. 

23 



346 COLLEGE RECOLLECTIONS 

The whole matter was referred to a committee, of 
which Dr. Bernard C. Wolff, of Baltimore, was the 
chairman, with instructions to report on the character of 
Dr. Schaff's Principle of Protestantism. The commit- 
tee reported that after a careful examination of the work 
referred to them, they could not find anything in the 
book to justify the charges made against its author, and 
that it, if taken in its proper sense, " is calculated to 
promote the interests of true religion, and entitles its 
author to the respect and affectionate regards of the 
Protestant community.'- — Dr. Wolff was a man of good 
judgment and had a well balanced mind. As he was 
well known in the Church to be very conscientious in 
matters of orthodoxy — it was so particularly whilst he 
was in the Seminary — he had come to be regarded by 
many of the ministers as a standard of orthodoxy. His 
judgment, therefore, on this occasion carried with it 
great weight, and his example probably helped to quiet 
the fears of some of the ministers and elders in their 
decision. He, however, showed his conscientiousness 
afterwards by telling the professors and others privately, 
that, whilst he could endorse all that was in the book, 
introduction and sermon, there were points in it, which 
if carried out in a false and one-sided way, would lead 
to serious error. He, as a practical man as well as a 
theologian, knew full well how the most valuable truths 
may be warped and twisted in favor of falsehood and 



BOCTOK SCHAFF 347 

error, and even at that time could see how the book 
might be misinterpreted. — It is a great pity that this 
his caveat was not always observed by all of the younger 
generation in the discussions that took place in subse- 
quent years. 

Within the limit of the period of which we are here 
writing, we can speak only of the advent of Dr. Schaff 
to our schools of learning at Mercersburg. He was then 
only in the vestibule of his literary and theological ac- 
tivity in this country. He is at present professor in the 
Union Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church 
at New York, and is well known, both in this country 
and Europe, for his many valuable works on Church 
History and other subjects ; for the active part he has 
taken in the meetings of the Evangelical Alliance ; and 
as a member of the American Committee, who assisted 
in preparing the recent New Version of the Bible. He 
is one of the first among living church historians and peer- 
less scholars, carrying with him the treasures of German 
learning, and as a writer exhibiting a remarkably fine 
taste for a German scholar. No one, we think, now 
will say that the translation of a German professor from 
Germany, over forty years ago, was not without good 
fruits to the English as well as the German churches 
in this country. It was no doubt a work of Providence. 



V, 



348 college recollections 

Conclusion 

We are brought somewhat reluctantly to the conclu- 
sion of our narrative, which has been to us a work of 
love, refreshing and edifying throughout. The institu- 
tions at Mercersburg had a humble beginning, and were 
encompassed with difficulties from the start ; but they 
were in the hand of Providence, that provided for them 
in a way that no human wisdom could have devised. In 
themselves considered they were small and weak, but in 
their relation to the religious communion which founded 
them they were of unspeakable account. Whilst they 
derived their life from the piety of the Church, they in 
their turn, poor as they were in earthly things, were the 
instruments in the hands of God, in reviving, quicken- 
ing and infusing life and energy into the body which 
gave them birth. Under the form of a narrative we 
have endeavored to show what they did in this way, 
and find that instead of writing a book containing mere 
College stories or recollections, we have written out in 
fact a chapter on Church history, which we hope will 
prove to be useful in the present and the hereafter. 



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